Page 59 of Native Hawk
Chapter 18
Drew sat forward and pressed hard at his temples. Catalina was taxing his brain. But she had a point. Men were like bees, flitting around from woman to woman, while women were supposed to save themselves for marriage. It didn’t exactly make sense.
“Fair enough,” he told her. “And I don’t have a good answer. That’s just the way it is and the way it’s always been.”
It wasn’t up to Drew to change the morals of society. It was hard enough being a half-breed. He didn’t need to add seducer of virgins to his list of liabilities.
“So you are turning me down?” she said.
“That’s right,” he said, though every nerve in his body was screaming at him for it.
“Fine.”
“Glad that’s settled.” He threw back her side of the covers and patted the mattress. “Now why don’t you be a good girl and come to bed?”
“If you do not wish to make the sex with me, then maybe I will go downstairs and find a man who will.” She moved toward the door.
“Wait! What?”
She paused.
“You’re not serious, are you?”
“I am very serious.”
“You’re makin’ a big mistake, Cat.” He couldn’t believe she’d actually consider sleeping with one of the rowdy brawlers in the salon. “Did you take a good look at ’em?”
She shrugged. “One of them looked very gentlemanly.”
He racked his brain. She must be talking about the man who’d come to the defense of the saloon girl. If that dandy had any experience at all with women, Drew would eat his Stetson.
She took another step toward the door.
“Hold on!”
She hesitated.
She had to be bluffing, didn’t she? Just two days ago, she’d blushed to be seen in her underthings. Was she honestly planning to open that door and put herself on display for the whole Parlor?
“I don’t think you want to be doin’ that,” he told her.
“I think I do,” she mused. “In fact, I am certain of it. I will just ask Miss Hattie which man she thinks would be thesecondbest to—”
“What?” He practically leaped out of the bed. “Are you crazy? You can’t go out there and parade yourself in your unmentionables in front of all those men.”
She shrugged. “Why not? The other ladies do it all the time.”
“You’re not the same as the other ladies,” he argued as definite panic rose in his chest. “They’ve got experience. You don’t know what you’re doin’. They’ll eat you alive, Cat.”
“I have to learn somehow. And if you are not wishing to make the sex with me…” She turned again, stepping toward the door.
“Wait!” He bit out the foulest curse he knew under his breath. “Will you just listen to me?”
She turned back and crossed her arms. “I am listening.”
He rubbed his palm across his mouth. How could he convince her not to do this? He’d played cards all afternoon, earning enough money so he could claim her for himself and prevent this very thing.
“Look, Cat, I spent my hard-won silver on this room and your company, and I’m not givin’ ’em up.”
