SIX
DENTON’S CHEST WAStight, and yet, his breaths were ragged. Usually, he didn’t get involved with women who were connected to his cases, especially if they were a suspect. Yet, his feelings told him that Courtney had nothing to do with Mr. Greenwood’s death. And now that he knew about the will, he felt even stronger that the killer was one of Greenwood’s children.
However, that wasn’t what made him struggle with his heartbeat. It was the way she had gazed into his eyes as if he were her rescuer – herhero. Then, as she moved against him and he smelled her intoxicating scent of lavender, all he wanted to do was hold her and caress her silky hair.
Her body trembled, which caused him to tighten his hold. A small sound escaped her throat, like a sigh floating on the breeze. He’d never heard anything so incredible in his life, and the flipping of his heartbeat warned him that he would soon be crossing dangerous waters if he didn’t pull back. Although his mind sent out the warning, his arms refused to release her.
Her palms rested on his chest, just below her forehead. He felt the uneven way she inhaled and exhaled, and the heat from her mouth melded through his shirt, stirring feelings inside him that he hadn’t experienced for a few years. His body reminded him exactly how lonely he’d been lately.
Denton’s mouth turned dry, and he tried to remain calm and in control. But the longer he held her and heard her pleasurable sighs, the more he wanted to hear more of her sighs. He couldn’t stop thinking about her heart-shaped mouth, and when he had first met her, he wanted to be the one to bring passion to her irresistible lips.
Kissing her right now couldnothappen. Even Denton’s professional thoughts reminded him that these out-of-control feelings would have to wait until after the case was solved and the real murderer was behind bars.
“Courtney,” he said with a cracked voice, wondering why he had even spoken when his mind and body were battling right now.
She lifted her head and peered into his eyes. Inwardly, he groaned. She had the most wondrous grayish-blue eyes that could bring a man to his knees. He was definitely feeling the hypnotic effects.
He swallowed hard, trying to bring moisture to his overly dry throat. “Courtney, perhaps we should...” His mind went blank. He had no idea why his thoughts had taken him down that road. Wasn’t he trying to break them apart because of his intense reaction to her?
Courtney’s gaze dropped to his mouth, and her gaze darkened.Oh, dear...He could forget about being in control now. Her expression spoke volumes right now, and her silent plea was for him to kiss her.
He was sinking, and fast, but strangely enough, he didn’t care. He wanted to feel her mouth beneath his as he kissed her passionately. Curse his lonely hide!
Slowly, he lowered his mouth. She lifted as if to meet him halfway. Just as his lips brushed hers, heavy footsteps pounded on the floor, coming from the other room. Immediately, Courtney jumped out of his arms and stepped back to the table, turning away from him. It was then when he realized how difficult it was to breathe.
“Denton, you’ve got to see this.” Clark hurried in the kitchen before coming to a quick stop. In his hands was a newspaper. His wide-eyed gaze jumped back and forth between Denton and Courtney. “Um, did I interrupt somethin’?”
Denton didn’t know if he was upset at his cousin for stopping the kiss – or relieved that his cousin barged in unexpectedly so that Denton could clear his head. “No, you haven’t interrupted anything.” He motioned to the newspaper. “What do you want me to see?”
“Well, I don’t think you’re gonna like it.” Hesitantly, Clark handed the folded newspaper to Denton.
As he opened it, his gaze fell on a sketch of Courtney on the front page of the Helena Gazette. The headline above the sketch readMurderer on the Run. Denton didn’t need to read the small article to know what it said.
He grumbled a curse under his breath and crumpled up the paper. If Courtney saw this, she’d be devastated. “This is ridiculous. Don’t people believe in finding proof before hanging a person?”
Courtney’s face paled. “I’m in the paper?”
Clark nodded. “I’ll have Pearl do some askin’ around town to see who might have given the newspaper the false information.”
“I’ll give you four guesses,” she said in a tight voice, “and all of them have the last name of Greenwood.”
Denton had been thinking the exact same thing. Now, more than ever, he needed to prove she was innocent. Either that, or he needed to get her as far away from Montana as he possibly could where nobody would know her face. Even if it meant walking through fire, he’d do all he could to find the person who killed Albert Greenwood.
* * * *
ONCE DINNER WAS OVER, Clark and Denton left the house, leaving Courtney alone with Pearl. She had put the children down for the night and then returned to the living room to keep Courtney entertained. Of course, her nerves were all over the place. Denton wouldn’t let her see the newspaper, but all she had to do was look at his red face to know that whatever had been printed wasn’t good at all.
