Arizona Caress: She Feels The Heat Of His Hot Embrace by Bobbi Smith

Author:Bobbi Smith [Smith, Bobbi]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: The Evan Marshall Agency
Published: 2019-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

For just one brief instant, Rori's battered spirits soared—Chance was going to take care of her . . . She had a fleeting vision of being safe and secure in his arms, of sharing his kisses and knowing his love, but as quickly as the thought came, she banished it. Chance didn't love her. He'd told her so. She was being foolish to even dream about such a thing.

The memory of his rejection stirred her ire, and she was glad to have her anger to hang on to right now. It was going to be just her and Jake from now on. She wouldn't depend on him or anyone else!

"I don't need no takin' care of!" Rori declared hotly. "Least of all by you!"

"Rori," Chance began again with exaggerated patience, sorry that the tentative peace between them was gone, "I gave Burr my word. I'm responsible for you now."

A tidal wave of crippling misery overwhelmed her. The tears that had threatened Rori for so long came close to falling, and she blinked furiously to control them. Her heart was breaking. While it was true she'd lost her grampa and was essentially alone in the world, she still didn't want to be anybody's charity case or responsibility. She could take care of herself. It was obvious to her that Chance thought of her merely as a task he was obliged to see to its proper end, and she chafed at the thought. Her pride was all she had left now, and it reasserted itself with a vengeance. Giving herself a hard, mental shake, Rori lifted her chin mutinously to glare at Chance, her emerald eyes shooting icy daggers at him.

"Forget it, Broderick," she told him angrily. "There ain't nobody responsible for me 'ceptin' myself! My grampa raised me to take care of myself."

"That may well be, but . . ."

"There ain't no 'buts' about it, white man. I'm fine. I got Big Jake, and he's all I'll ever need. You just go on about your business and don't worry about me."

"Burr wanted me to see that you were safe and protected."

"Well, that's real wonderful, but let me tell you some-thin'. I am safe . . ." She gestured toward the peaceful Pima farming village. "And I'm damned well protected!" Rori pulled her knife in a wicked, slashing motion. "Or have you forgot just how good I am with this?"

"It didn't help you much last night, did it?!" Chance retorted angrily in growing exasperation. Didn't Rori realize all he wanted to do was help?

"Look, Broderick, I don't need you!" Rori exploded, just wanting him to get out of her life. She fought against the memory of his lovemaking and his tenderness to her after the shooting. She reminded herself forcefully that she was only an obligation to him, that he felt no deep emotion for her other than mild concern, and he only felt that because Burr had managed to get a deathbed promise from him to watch over her. What else could Chance have done, but agree to it? "I'm letting you off the hook.

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