"What would you know about my life?" Angelina was angry. She who had striven so hard over the past year to control her worldly propensity toward fury.

"I know that underneath that nun's costume there's a livin', lustin' woman just beggin' to get out. You forget. I've tasted those lips. You aren't meant to be a nun, Angelina."

"I forget nothing. Just because you forced me to kiss you doesn't mean I enjoyed it."

Charlie snorted. "Right."

Angelina bit her lip, calling upon all her hard-won internal strength to keep from shrieking at him. She had learned the hard way, growing up with six brothers, that yelling at a man never did any good. It only made them more self-righteous. If you ignored their taunts, they were the ones who ended up infuriated.

"I'll just be on my way to wait for the stage now," she said, pleased with the calmness of her voice.

She reached for the door. Just as she began to open it, Charlie's fingers clamped down on hers. "You

aren't goin' anywhere, Sister." His voice was gruff with anger, and she stifled a smile. She'd gotten to him-worked every time.Then the sense of his words penetrated her mind, and she jerked her hand from his as she turned around.

He was close, too close, behind her. She shrank back against the door, attempting to put some distance between them. It didn't work. He was so large, so muscular, so male. His very presence in a room was intimidating.

Charlie saw her instinctive movement away from him and frowned, then stepped back. Angelina breathedeasier and straightened away from the door."What do you mean I'm not going anywhere?""Well, I shouldn't have said that. You are goin' somewhere."Angelina smiled."You're goin' to Mexico with me."

Her smile faltered. "No. We already had this discussion. I'm going to Corpus Christi on the stage."

"Not anymore. You've helped me escape capture. That Ranger will be after you as well as me. The only way you'll be safe is in Mexico. I'll take you to your family."

"No!" Angelina heard the rising panic in her voice, but she couldn't seem to stop it. "Put me on the stage.

Please. Then you go on. I'll be fine."

Charlie shook his head. "I can't do that. The Ranger saw you, and so did everyone else in this town. If he can't find me, he'll hunt you down. If he's in a real nasty mood he could put you in jail-or worse."

"I'm a woman of the church. He wouldn't dare."

"God, you're young." Charlie ran an impatient hand through his golden hair. "Men dare a lot-especially

with a murderer on the loose and a sizable bounty for his capture. You'll be safe with me. I'm not so sure about the Ranger."

"Why?" Angelina demanded.

"Why?" Charlie made an exasperated sound. "Because I don't know him-"

"No, not that." Angelina stamped her foot in anger. "Why do you care what happens to me? Last week

you didn't even know me. Pretend it's last week."

Charlie's face softened, and he took a step toward her again. Angelina tensed, but this time he didn't

back off. Instead, he reached up and stroked a finger down her cheek, staring into her eyes with a rueful expression.

"Can't do that, Sister. Now that I've got you, I can't let you go. Wouldn't be gentlemanly. And if there's

one thing us Southern outlaws are, it's gentlemen."

"You're not funny," she said, trying to sound stern, but only managing to sound breathless instead.

"I know. Neither is goin' to jail." He took his hand away from her cheek, and his face hardened. "You're

comin' with me, Angelina. By your own will or mine, you're still comin'. It's your choice if I bind and gag you or not."

"You wouldn't." She gasped.

"No? Try me."

They stared at each other, brown eyes at war with black. Charlie had obviously had more experience with showdowns, for he never gave an inch. After several minutes, Angelina sighed and looked away.

She knew when to surrender. And when to regroup for the next battle.

"I thought you'd see it my way," Charlie said. "Let's go. Luanne's bartender should be back with my horse soon. Then we've got to get a move on in case that Ranger comes back this way."

"Is there a church in town?"

Charlie, who had been on his way out the door, paused abruptly. "Huh?"

"A church. You know, a building with a cross on top?"

"I know. Why do you want one?"

"I want to go to confession."

"Now?"

"Right now," Angelina said firmly. "I must." When Charlie continued to stare at her as if she had just escaped from a lunatic asylum, she stepped toward him and whispered, "Please. You must understand that I need to confess."

"Aw, hell." Charlie stomped out into the hallway. "If it means that much to you, let's go. I'll tell Luanne to send the horses over to the church, and we'll leave from there."

Angelina smiled. "Thank you, Charlie."

He never heard her thanks, having already turned and stamped away, heading downstairs as he shouted for Luanne.

Angelina tried to avoid watching as the woman bid Charlie good-bye. But she couldn't help taking a peak. Her face flamed. Luanne's lithe body was pressed intimately to Charlie's as she twisted her fingers in his hair and kissed him deeply. To his credit, Charlie didn't return the embrace, but he did return the kiss. When Luanne pulled away, he smiled and stroked the back of his hand up and down her cheek.

"Thanks for the help," Charlie said.

"Anytime. When you get rid of the lawman, and the nun, come on back. I'll show you what I've learned since the last time."

Charlie shrugged and nodded. He looked up and met Angelina's gaze. She averted her eyes,

embarrassed to be caught ogling like a child.

"Seen enough, Sister?" Charlie escorted Angelina to the door, keeping her behind him until he glanced up and down the street. With a nod, he led the way outside.

"Too much." Angelina sniffed. "Do you enjoy such public displays?"

Charlie glanced at her, and her entire body grew warm at the suggestive tilt of his eyebrows. "I enjoy displays like that anytime-public or private. Though I must admit the private display we had earlier was more my style."

"Please, if I'm going to travel with you, that can't happen again."

Charlie turned away and led her down the main street toward the church at the edge of town. Without looking at her he asked, "Didn't you like it?"

Angelina hesitated. What should she say?

"Come on now, Sister. You're not goin' to lie to me, are ya?"

She sighed. No, she couldn't lie. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the kiss. But it was wrong. For both of us."

"I don't know about that."

"I do. There can be nothing physical between us. If I'm going to travel with you, though it's against my

will, I must have your promise you won't touch me in that way again."

"You've got to be kiddin'."

"I assure you, I'm not."

"I was afraid of that," Charlie mumbled.

They reached the church and stopped in front of the doors. Charlie reached out to open one for her.

"No," she said and reached out to still his hand. "You must promise me you won't try to seduce me away

from my vows."

With a swift movement, Charlie turned his palm upward, capturing her fingers in his. Angelina gasped and

tried to tug herself free. He held on and brought her hand to his lips. One by one, he kissed each fingertip, then released her. Angelina's heart was pounding so fast she barely heard his whispered answer.

"All right. I promise not to seduce you, unless you ask me to."

"Wh-what?"

"If you want me to touch you, you only have to ask, Angelina. Ask and you shall receive. Isn't that how