Misreading his laughter, Perry exploded into action. Before she thought, she raised a glass paperweight from her desk and sent it sailing toward him. "Get out, Captain Kirkland! How dare you laugh at me! I'm not a child or a loose woman. Go marry your Jennifer and stay out of my life!"

Perry looked down at her desk for another object to throw. "What do you want of me the day before your wedding?" When she lifted an empty china cup and glanced back up, she saw that Hunter was missing from his chair. Before she could find him, his arms encircled her from behind. He grabbed at the cup and pulled her against him.

Anger surged through her. "Let me go!" she shouted as the pain of Wade's, not Hunter's, arms returned. In her mind she was plunged back to the night a month ago at Three Oaks. "Don't touch me!" She fought with all her strength. "Don't hurt me!"

Hunter dropped his arm instantly, moving out of range as he saw the fear in her huge brown eyes. He was confused and angry with himself. Why hadn't he listened to Molly's warning? He'd stormed in again where he should have tread lightly.

Backing to the window, he raised his hands in the air. "I'll not touch you again. I won't hurt you, Perry. If you will talk to me, I swear, I'll stay the entire distance of this room away from you."

Perry took a deep breath and calmed down slightly. She saw the seriousness in Hunter's gray eyes and knew he was trying very hard to talk with her. Before she could answer, the door burst open.

Luke stormed in. He looked first at Perry, standing by the desk; then at Hunter, over by the window. All seemed in order. "I'm sorry, Miss Perry. I thought I heard a scream." Luke spoke to Perry, but his eyes never left Hunter, leaving no doubt that he'd break Hunter in half if he bothered Miss Perry.

"I broke a glass, nothing more, but thank you, Luke. It's good to know you're near if I need you." She shot Hunter a silent look of warning.

Luke swelled with pride. "I'll be right at the foot of the stairs." He bowed slightly and backed out of the room.

Hunter didn't miss the devotion in Luke's manner. It reminded him of the way Abram spoke of Perry. But Hunter didn't want to line up behind Luke and Abram as Perry's guardian. He wanted to be more, far more, to her.

Turning his back to her, he tried to think. He'd spent little time around women, but she fascinated him. He had trouble getting his words into sentences when he looked at her.

His fingers idly toyed with a small gun on the table by the window. She must have left it there when she'd run from the room-and him-the night before. He recognized the handle as one having belonged to his mother years ago, but he wasn't about to mention it to her lest she refuse to keep the gun for protection. He stared out the window and stated, "Thanks for not having me thrown out. I wouldn't have liked fighting the man who brought me here last night and very well may have saved me from a planned accidental death."

He heard Perry's sharp intake of breath and continued. "I think someone was trying to kill me." He slowly turned to face her. "The fight I found myself in, in the middle of last night, was planned. Had Luke not found me, I'm sure my body would have washed up on shore this morning." Hunter was shocked by the concern in her face. This woman was a great mystery to him. A few moments ago she'd been hurling objects at him, and now her brown eyes reflected concern.

He took a step toward her, then froze as she backed away. "Perry, I swear I'll not touch you against your will. I'm not so much a gentleman to lie and tell you I don't want you. I do want you." He'd never been good at the games men and women played. He had to tell her how he felt. "I've wanted you so much, I've dreamed of you."

She bit her bottom lip, wishing he'd say something about loving her and not just wanting her. She didn't want to be afraid of him. "I believe you. Please sit down and I'll pour tea."

Hunter pulled out one of the chairs by the window and Perry sat, trying not to brush his hands. Every part of her was aware of his nearness. She tried to keep her hand from shaking as she poured.

He accepted the cup with disinterest and placed it down on the table, his eyes never leaving her face. "There is one thing I should clear up. Jennifer and I are not planning to marry. It seems she's found another."

Perry swallowed the warm liquid, trying to hide her surprise. "You don't seem like a man who just lost his bride the day before his wedding."

Hunter didn't answer her question. He hadn't thought about it, with everything else that was happening, but Perry was right. He wasn't upset. His angel had haunted his every dream, driving all thoughts of Jennifer away. All morning he'd thought about seeing her, and now he couldn't find the right words to say. He wanted to blurt out all his accomplishments to prove himself, he wanted to share with her all his dreams of the future, and most of all he wanted to hold her.

They sat drinking tea for several minutes before Hunter broke the silence. "I'd like to ask you something, but I don't want to upset you." He sat his cup down. "Molly probably wants to keep all her china intact."

Perry folded her hands in her lap, embarrassed by her outburst.

"My grandfather is very ill and I must go to North Carolina. I want you to go with me." He hesitated a moment, awaiting her reaction. When none came, he continued. "I have a small ship, the West Wind, that has been making trips along the coast since the war ended. I sail in the morning." He wanted to tell her how desperately he needed her beside him, but he didn't know what she'd say. "I thought you might like to visit your brother."

Perry hesitated. The invitation was tempting, but she was needed here. Besides, she knew Wade would be waiting for her if she went south again. "I'm sorry, I must stay here."

"I could arrange for my bookkeeper to help Molly."

"No, thank you." Perry didn't want to think about what Wade would do if she arrived in North Carolina on Hunter's arm.

The strong set of her chin told Hunter she wouldn't change her mind. She was as stubborn as she was beautiful, and if he was honest, she was probably safer here. "Then I'll see you upon my return." He stood slowly, too proud to ask again.

As she stood, she brushed dangerously close to him. He closed his eyes as he breathed in the sweet, honeylike smell of her. Last night he'd wanted her, but today she seemed as vital to his life as air. His voice was suddenly low, speaking his mind. "You will be in my thoughts and dreams until I return."

She looked into his gray eyes, now clouded with desire. A deep yearning filled her, yet she held back, wanting more from him than just his passion.

Luke's loud knock shattered the moment. He poked his head in and shouted, "Beggin' your pardon, miss, but Molly needs you bad in the kitchen."

"I'll be right there," Perry answered as Luke withdrew. Turning to Hunter, she whispered, "Give my love to your grandparents and tell them my prayers will be with them. I'll see you when you return." On impulse she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the cheek. A heartbeat later she was out of his reach and vanishing from his sight.

Hunter stood alone for several minutes, thinking over all they'd said to each other. How could he keep his promise not to touch her? If shed stayed another moment, he would have crushed her to him. Maybe it was good that they would be apart. How else could he get this summer storm of a woman out of his blood? Out of his mind? Out of his heart?

Chapter 28

Shouts rattled from the back of the house as Perry ran down the stairs. A scream echoed through the hallway, quickening her steps toward the kitchen, fear mixed with concern for Molly. With only a moment's delay Perry stopped at the en try way table and pulled one of the dueling pistols from its hiding place. If she was going to face danger, she didn't plan on doing so unarmed.

When she reached the kitchen, Luke was blocking the door to the storage room. Molly's shouts filled the kitchen with colorful language.

"What is it?" Perry peeked around Luke.

Molly stood in a pile of ruined supplies. "Someone broke in last night." She lifted a handful of sugar mixed with coffee. "They cut the bags on all our dry goods." Perry stepped aside as a stream of syrup passed by, and Molly continued. "It was them nephews, I just know it. I had a feeling we hadn't seen the last of them."

"But when?"

"Probably while we were upstairs. They couldn't run me out by frightening me to death, so now they're planning on starving us out."

Perry lifted an empty bag of flour. She'd learned during the war not to spend energy crying over what had already happened. "We don't have much time. Molly, make a list of everything we need. I'll go change, then Luke and I will go shopping."

"All right, but when the sheriff gets here, I'm adding this to their crimes. Killing an old partner in the slave trade is one thing, but destroying good food… well, that's quite another.''

Within an hour Perry's boots were tapping along the wooden steps toward the market. Luke followed closely in her wake, swinging a large basket under one arm. They had only an hour to buy the items on her list and return home in time to cook everything for tonight. Luckily the streets were packed with carts and merchants displaying their wares. Many were local farm families who traveled into town once a week to sell their crops and buy supplies.

Most of the farmers had no special market cart but merely sold out of their wagons. To disguise the drab work wagons the farmers often hung colorful ribbons from the sideboards, making the marketplace seem festive and gay. As husbands sold their goods, wives visited with their neighbors, and the children played chase, threading their way in and out among all the people.