The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty (3 page)

James replied before Trevor could speak. “No, but Trevor here,” he motioned with his chin, “would like to know who the man over there is who’s talking to Belle.”

Trevor cleared his throat. “Actually, what James really means is
he
would like to know when she’ll be finished with the man, so he can go talk to her. And James may not want a shot, but yes, I’d like another whiskey.”

James gave him a crooked frown. Served James right for answering for him like he did. James may hate whiskey, but Trevor didn’t.

“I’m sure you’d both like to talk with the lady.” She grinned glancing at them both. “How about I bring you each a shot? That there with Belle is the boss man. And once he starts yapping, he doesn’t stop. So you boys have a lot of time to waste.”

With disappointment in his eyes, James huffed, tapping his fingers on the table. “I’d care for some water instead, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Sally nodded. “One whiskey and one glass of water it is.” And she walked away.

They continued to observe Belle’s table while their drinks came. Twenty minutes later, Belle and her boss were still conversing, but they had both stood up. Belle appeared to be getting ready to leave.

James nudged him. “Follow me.”

Perplexed, Trevor held his lightweight bag in one hand and cursed. He followed James through the loud horde of men. Once out the saloon doors, they descended the stairs and stood in the plentiful moonlight.

“Why the hell did we come out here, partner?” Trevor asked.

James scanned the perimeter. Most of the crowd still remained in the saloon. Only a few cowboys stood outside chatting.

“Because it was too crowded in there to talk to her. Maybe we’ll get a chance to talk to her here. She’s bound to come out any second.”

“Good idea,” Trevor said, rubbing his itchy chin. His stubble made a brushing sound by the friction of his fingers sliding over it. He hadn’t used his razor since yesterday and needed a shave badly. His thick beard grew quickly. He hated the feel of stubble. But unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything about it. For now, he had to live with the stubble whether he liked it or not.

Deflecting his thoughts from his grooming woes, he stared at their surroundings. The wind blew gently, making the leaves in the tree next to the saloon rustle softly to and fro. The scenery calmed Trevor, but didn’t seem to affect James, who paced before him.

“So what are you thinking about?” Curiosity compelled Trevor to ask.

“Belle.” James huffed.

Trevor had to snort. “The same here, partner.”

“Mmm. She sure has a voice, doesn’t she?” James half chuckled.

Trevor didn’t speak, just nodded.

James resumed his pacing while he combed his fingers through his hair. “But something just doesn’t add up.”

“Oh, what?” Trevor swore he could hear the gears in James’s fine-tuned brain turning. He was mystified at how his mind worked. At times, he wished his worked in the same intricate way, but other times when he saw James worrying and obsessing, he was happy his mind didn’t think like his did.

No, his easygoing nature served him just fine. Letting James deal with the complicated problems was okay with him.

“The way Belle acted tonight has me confused.” James tapped his finger on his lip.

“Why?” Trevor gazed at the crowd exiting the saloon.

“She was shy, humble, nothing like Isabelle LaRue is said to be.”

Trevor had to agree. “True, but maybe she’s acting. Putting up a front so no one will figure out who she is.”

James nodded. “Could be.”

Just then, Trevor saw Belle walking out the saloon door. He nudged James in the ribs and pointed his chin up high in her direction.

“Quick, here she comes.”

James turned around in time as beautiful Belle strode in their direction. She looked at them, smiled slightly, and then averted her gaze to the ground as she came closer.

Both Trevor and James bowed their heads as she walked by them. Trevor expected James would speak first since it was his plan to come outside and he usually always took the lead where work was concerned, but when he saw his partner became tongue-tied, Trevor decided to take over the reins of conversation.

“Ah, Miss Samson. Howdy.” He took off his hat and bowed his head once more. Putting his hat back on, he continued. “My friend and I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your songs tonight.”

He glanced at James and gave him a coaxing look. “Isn’t that right, James?”

James nodded and mumbled, “Mm-hmm. Yes, miss.”

Trevor tried to contain a smile. Seeing his friend dumbfounded and acting awkward was humorous. Usually, James’s mind churned at high speed as he pondered their next move, and Trevor followed his lead, figuring his way while they went along. How the tables had turned in this case. He didn’t blame his friend. Belle could dumb many men. But to have it happen to his genius partner, who barely noticed women and who obsessed on every assignment like it was his life, had him amused.

She glanced up at him at first and then deflected her gaze to the ground, smiling. “Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it, ah…”

Trevor held out his hand. “I’m Trevor Kent and that’s James Sanford.” He pointed to his partner as she shook his hand and then turned to shake James’s.

“It’s nice to meet you both. You’re new to Fort Smith?”

“Yes, miss. We just arrived on the train early this evening and have been taking a tour of the place.”

She glanced at the moon and her blue eyes twinkled. Then she returned her gaze to Trevor. “What do you think of our town?”

Trevor gave James a sideways glance to see if he should continue or if James cared to retake the lead.

When he saw James remained bewildered, he added, “We like it, especially Eden’s Paradise. We heard it was pretty exciting and after hearing you sing, we know why it’s so famous.”

Even in the moonlit night, he could see her blush rise to her cheeks. “Thank you, Trevor.”

James finally piped in. “Yes, Miss Samson, we really enjoyed your show tonight.”

“Call me Belle, please. Thank you, James.” She turned and said, “Well, I have to be going. It was nice meeting you both.”

James stepped forward. “Miss Belle, I mean, Belle, it’s late and it isn’t safe for a lady to be walking all by herself. Why don’t Trev and I escort you home?”

She shook her head. “That’s mighty kind of you, but I’m staying at the Mayflower Inn. It isn’t that far off.”

Trevor observed the sly grin spread over his partner’s face. He swore he probably sported the same grin himself. Coincidence couldn’t have served them a more pleasing hand tonight. Their captain set things up so that they’d be staying at the Mayflower Inn, too.

Before Trevor could comment, James remarked, “Belle, it just so happens we’re staying at the same inn. So, would you mind if we kept you company on your walk?”

A smile surfaced on her pretty doll face. “Not at all.”

Trevor thought it was high time his charismatic persona cued in. He extended his arm and bowed his head slightly. “Well, Belle, let the escorting begin.”

She took his welcoming arm and giggled timidly. A whiff of her rose-scented fragrance tickled his nose as the passing wind blew her wild black curls toward him. His stomach did a little jerk, and he yearned to dip in closer to take a deeper sniff and touch her beautiful hair. Somehow, he guessed it was silky soft, just like her alabaster skin would be. She represented the embodiment of feminine beauty.

Even though she wasn’t scantily dressed as the other saloon girls, he could tell her curves were plentiful. Her full bosom enticed him, and the hint of cleavage he caught sent his manly urges to full arousal. And when she moved by his side, he sensed her hips swaying in a seductive dance from side to side. Although he adored the part of her that was all shy and demure, he wondered if she hid another part of herself from the public.

Maybe a spitfire of a vixen lay under that timid exterior, and if he played his cards just right, he’d be the lucky guy to unravel the layers of her personality and get the wanton, lustful self she held hidden. Damn, sometimes he loved his job.

* * * *

She wished she could pinch herself now and make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Having two handsome gentlemen escort her home this evening overwhelmed her. She couldn’t help her racing heart and the giddiness that empowered her senses.

With the moon’s light guiding their path, they walked down the abandoned dirt road. Ten minutes passed and they had asked her so many questions about her singing, the saloon, and other things that she lost count. Actually, James asked the probing questions while Trevor just stared at her with a wide, inquisitive smile, as if he assimilated her answers and tried to read her.

She had to admit she liked the scrutiny from both men. Trevor’s dreamy, chocolate-brown eyes bewitched her, and James’s reserved, inquisitive attitude was so charming. His full lips made her wonder how it would feel to kiss them. Her nipples perked, rubbing against her tightly bound corset, making her arousal mount, and her pussy tingled with the thought.

A steamy fantasy stirred in her mind, and she soon envisioned having both men kiss her and undress her. They slowly caressed each part of her hot, exposed body, first her neck, then her shoulders, down to her breasts. Her imagination soared. Her bodice became even more restraining when her breathing turned into deep panting, and her chest heaved to replenish her lungs with much-needed oxygen.

Belle shook her head slightly when her companions weren’t observing, casting the sinful images out. She couldn’t let those wanton ideas overcome her, and being honest with herself, she was actually surprised they even came to mind. She never had such wayward ideas of other men before this, but these gentlemen obviously had an effect on her mind and body she had difficulty controlling.

She tried to focus on the here and now. On the fact that in just a matter of ten minutes, they got to know a whole lot more of her than she got to know of them. Or at least what she wanted them to know.

Her big secret must never be revealed. Too much had been planned out and sacrificed, and the ploy was weaved intricately. She’d risk her life if she must to keep it all hidden.

They arrived at the inn and stood in the lobby downstairs. “Well, Trevor and James, thank you for keeping me company on my walk tonight. It was a pleasure to have gotten to know you both. Or rather you getting to know more about me. I still don’t know much about you two other than you just arrived in town today and that you enjoyed my songs tonight.”

Trevor took her hand, caressing her palm while he stared at her. “Well, how about you have dinner with me tomorrow evening? You can ask me anything you want to know about me then.”

Shivers of excitement surged through her with the gentle pressure his fingertips put on strategic areas of her palm. The smile in his gaze and lifted eyebrow tempted her to jump out with “Yes,” but she needed to show some restraint even though her legs became weak with his heated fingers on her hand. She turned to James whose eyebrows creased as he glared at his friend. James seemed to be slightly irritated.

Trevor added, “James will be busy tomorrow night preparing for work. He has a lot to check out before we’re ready to start working at the end of the week.” He glanced at his friend. “Isn’t that right, James?”

The crease between James’s brows disappeared, and his eyes took on a humorous look a few seconds after that. “Yes, there are many things that need to be looked into. And, unfortunately, I’m the only one who can check them out. So if you wouldn’t mind keeping my friend company tomorrow evening so he isn’t in my way, I’d surely appreciate it, Belle.”

Her sixth sense screamed to her that there was more to it than that. Some secret message had just been communicated between the gentlemen about her. But what it could be baffled the hell out of her. An air of mystery surrounded these handsome men, and her curiosity to find out exactly what they were up to made her decide.

“All right, James, if you need to concentrate on your work, then I guess I’ll accept your invitation to dinner, Trevor. Tomorrow’s my night off, and it would be nice to spend it enjoying your company and a good meal.”

The widest smile spread over Trevor’s face. “Well, that’s great.”

“There aren’t many saloons in Fort Smith that offer food, so Sherry’s is probably our only choice.”

“Okay, then Sherry’s it is. Will seven o’clock be a good time to go?”

She started to head to the stairs as she replied. “Sure, I’ll meet you in the lobby tomorrow at seven, then.”

Trevor and James followed her to the stairs, and this time, surprisingly, James took her hand and kissed it, then grinned. “Have a wonderful night, Belle, and thanks for helping take him off my hands tomorrow evening. I’ll get a lot of work done this way.”

Oh, James’s shyness seemed to have vanished now, and she liked the daring side he displayed. Her hand tingled where his full, fervid lips caressed her skin.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with you, Belle, and getting to know you better.” Trevor mimicked his friend’s actions by gently taking her other hand and brushing his lips over it.