Dear God, Quint hadnt driven for nearly an hour to get this sort of preaching, to hear his grandfather admit that he loved the same woman that Quint had taken to his bed. This was insanity.
Okay. Youve made your point, Gramps, he said wearily. Youre in love with the woman and I should realize that shes an angel.
Abes boots banged loudly against the footrest as he positioned the chair upright and got to his feet. Quint, I didnt say I was in love with Maura. I said I loved her. Theres a difference. Sometimes a man has to know his limitations and I can see that shes too young for me. So, he said with a shrug, I just have to settle with havin her company. Until she gets tangled up with a man wholl give her a family.
Quint let out a pent-up breath. Shes told you that she wants a family?
Not in so many words. But I can just tell when a woman is ripe for that sort of thing.
If that was the case, then Abe knew a hell of a lot more than Quint knew. From what Maura had implied to him, she wasnt ready to jump into a serious situation with any man. That was one of the reasons Quint had been drawn to her in the first place. He didnt have to worry about her getting all clingy and demanding.
Tell me, Gramps, did Granny know that you were such an expert on women?
Course she did. She taught me everything I know. He motioned for Quint to follow him to the kitchen. Cmon. Lets find us something to eat. And maybe Maura will show up before long.
A few minutes later, when Maura arrived and spotted Quints truck parked near the front gate, her heart leaped into a dizzying speed. Even though darkness had just now settled over the ranch, daylight savings time made the hour late. Had he made the long drive to see his grandfather? Or her?
After parking her car beneath a covered carport at the back, she entered the house through the kitchen door and discovered both men sitting at the table, eating leftovers from the day before.
As soon as Quint spotted her, he immediately rose to his feet and Maura felt something melt inside as her gaze connected with his blue eyes.
Come sit with us, Maura, he invited. Gramps was just telling me that Brady was involved in some sort of scrape.
Brady was Mauras youngest brother had worked as the chief deputy to Lincoln Countys sheriff, Ethan Hamilton. Earlier this afternoon, when Maura had gotten the call that hed been wounded, shed left the ranch at breakneck speed and with a litany of prayers passing her lips, sped to the hospital. The ordeal had drained her, but now, seeing Quint was refueling her with happy pleasure.
Shoving a hand through her hair, she pushed the disheveled strands away from her face. Yes, unfortunately. Some of the men in the department had set up a drug sting and things went amiss when one of the dealers smelled a rat. He pulled out a gun and began shooting. Bradys arm was hit with a small caliber bullet, but thankfully it was a flesh wound and should heal in a short time.
She walked over to the table, where Quint already had a chair pulled out for her. As he helped her into it, his closeness shook her, reminded her that shed spent the past several nights lying awake thinking about him and the way hed made love to her in such a thorough, precious way.
Thats good to hear, Abe said. Lord knows that brother of yours earns his money the hard way.
Maura smiled at the old man. Being a deputy is what he loves to do. Like I love nursing you. She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. Have you been feeling okay while I was gone?
He grinned at her. If I felt any better Id have to go out and jump a fence. And Quint here showed up to keep me company. Thats somethin that dont happen every day.
At the opposite end of the table, Quint cleared his throat. We were just having a little supper, Maura. Would you like a plate? Something to drink? he asked.
She wanted none of those things. She simply wanted to be in his arms, to feel herself all wrapped up against his hard body, his lips moving against hers. Oh my, oh my, what had this man done to her? She was sex-crazed, but only one certain man would do.
No thanks. Before I left the hospital, I had something with Bridget and my grandmother.
Kate was there? Abe asked with surprise.
Maura smiled to herself. From time to time Abe had brought up the subject of Mauras grandmother, Kate. It was obvious he was interested in the woman, but she doubted hed ever admit it, especially to Kate. If anything, Kate was even bolder spoken than Abe. Sparks would fly if the two of them ever got together.
Dad couldnt keep her away. Shes always been especially close to Brady. Maybe because hes the baby and much more like her than any of us. But everything is under control and when I left the hospital the rest of my family were heading for home.
Thats good, Abe said, then abruptly rose to his feet. Well, thats about all I can eat right now. Im gonna head down to the bunkhouse and see if Jims up to a game of poker. Damn man skinned me for thirty dollars last night. I gotta win it back.
Its dark outside, Quint warned him. Youd better drive.
I know how to get to my own bunkhouse, he muttered as he disappeared out the door.
Bemused by the old mans quick departure, Quint said, Whats wrong with him? He always wants coffee after he eats.
From what he tells me, Jim always keeps a pot going on the stove, Maura reasoned.
Well, the way he scooted out of here, youd think he wanted to leave us alone, Quint said, then leveled a suggestive look at her. What do you think?
Heat swept through her body, making it feel like her cotton dress was actually a heavy woolen coat. Refraining from fanning herself, she rose to her feet and began to gather Abes dirty dishes.
Clearly, she said as she carried the things over to the sink.
Not bothering with his own dishes, Quint left the table and walked up behind her. As he slipped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to the back of her neck, he said in a voice muffled by her skin, I think the old man needs psychotherapy. He says he loves you.
She didnt so much as flinch. Instead, she asked, Are you saying a man has to be mentally ill to love me?
The coolness in her voice told him hed gone at this all wrong. No. But Gramps is eighty-four.
So. You dont think youll be capable of loving at eighty-four?
Hell, he wasnt sure he was capable of loving a woman at twenty-nine, he thought. These past years since his break with Holly hed tried to get close to other women, tried to recapture that blissful state of mind hed had with his first sweetheart. But the most hed experienced was a cold sweat, a sick repulsion at the idea of handing any woman the reins to his future.
Quint figured by the time he reached Abes age, his heart would more than likely be as hard as a piece of granite. Maybe it was now, he thought bitterly. Maybe Holly had turned him to stone and hed never be able to love again.
Lifting his head, he answered, Not a woman fifty years my junior!
Twisting around, she slipped her arms around his midsection and linked her hands behind his back. Oh, Quint, she said with a soft laugh, Abe loves me as a daughter.
Her laughter was all he needed to lighten his thoughts and he smiled at her. I suppose youre right. I just dont want his old heart broken.
Twisting around, she slipped her arms around his midsection and linked her hands behind his back. Oh, Quint, she said with a soft laugh, Abe loves me as a daughter.
Her laughter was all he needed to lighten his thoughts and he smiled at her. I suppose youre right. I just dont want his old heart broken.
As for his own heart, Quint wasnt worried about that. After all, a piece of rock wasnt capable of getting all soft and soppy and vulnerable.
I was surprised to see you here tonight, she said huskily.
Why? I told you on the phone that Id see you soon.
The husky note in his voice sent a shiver of anticipation down Mauras spine. That could mean anything. And youve been very busy.
Jake and I have finally started stocking the ranch and for the past week, weve been moving cattle and horses from dawn til dusk. Ive hardly taken time to eat. His hands gently framed her face. Butoh, honey, you ought to know Ive been going crazy to be with you again.
She sighed. Ive been wanting to see you again, too.
He bent his head and his lips wrapped desperately over hers. The force of his kiss rocked her head backward and she moaned as her hands reached for the anchor of his shoulders.
In spite of the overhead lighting, his kiss was tugging her down into a swirling darkness where there was nothing but his hands sizzling over her skin, his mouth demanding, yet at the same time giving.
When their lips finally broke apart and his forehead was resting against hers, she sucked in ragged breaths and attempted to calm her racing heart.
This is crazy, Quint!
Yeah. But a good kind of crazy.
He pressed his lips across her forehead, then along one cheekbone, while goose bumps danced over Mauras skin.
The way I want you is indecent, she whispered. You shouldnt be making me feel like this.
Her head tilted sideways as his lips began a downward trail on the side of her neck, then paused against the throbbing vein at the juncture of her shoulder.
Ive got to make love to you, Maura.
Yes. The word floated out on a sigh.
His lips began working their way back up her throat and toward her lips. Aching with need, Mauras hips shamelessly arched into his.
Not herenot in your grandfathers house, she uttered with dismay.
Groaning with frustration, he dipped his hand beneath the hem of her skirt, then glided his hand up her thigh until his fingers reached the silky fabric of her panties. While he teased the flesh of one buttock, he whispered, Gramps will be gone for hours.
Knowing that she couldnt succumb to his seductive persuasions on this matter, she purposely pushed at his shoulders to wedge a few cooling inches between them. Maybe. Maybe not. It doesnt matter. I wouldnt feel right.
Seeing she meant what she said, Quint grabbed her hand and began tugging her toward the door. Cmon. I know somewhere we can go.
Go? Now? she asked dazedly. Where?
Youll see. Its not far.
Unable to resist, Maura allowed him to lead her outside to the front of the house, where he quickly helped her into the cab of his truck. As he pulled away from the ranch house, a sense of reckless anticipation came over her and she looked at him as though theyd suddenly turned into sneaky partners in crime.
What if Abe returns to the house and finds us gone? What are we going to tell him?
Quint chuckled. That I took you sightseeing.
Maura groaned with misgiving. In the dark? The man isnt that ancient, Quint.
Does it matter what he thinks?
He reached across the seat for her hand and as his fingers closed around hers, she could feel her heart throbbing with excitement. What normal woman wouldnt thrill at the idea of her lover carrying her off in the dark to a secret hideaway?
No, she whispered truthfully. It cant matter.
About two miles from the house, he turned onto a dim dirt road that led north toward the mountains. During her morning jogs, Maura had noticed the road, but never explored it.
Are we still on Apache Wells? she asked after hed driven for another five minutes.
By now the road had grown bumpy and a dense pine forest had narrowed the road down to the width of a single vehicle. As the truck climbed the rough terrain, Maura gripped the seat in order to steady herself.
Honey, you have to drive ten miles back to the main highway before youre off of Apache Wells.
I wasnt sure. Were going toward the mountains. And it doesnt look like anyone travels this road very often.
Only me. And if any cattle go astray, the ranch hands might use it. But thats rare.
She was peering out the windshield, wondering how much farther the truck could handle the rough terrain when suddenly the road planed out, and straight ahead, in the beam of the headlights, stood a small log cabin embraced by a stand of tall pines.
Quint quickly stopped the truck, then helped her to ground. As they walked toward the entrance, their footsteps made silent by pine needles, Maura got the sense that the structure was old. Possibly even older than the ranch itself.
Using his shoulder, Quint shoved the door inward, then ordered her to stay put until he provided light.
Standing in the doorway, the cool night air to her back and the silence of the woods surrounding them, a brief moment of stark sanity raced through her mind.
What was she doing here? With a man younger than her and definitely far less committed? Had she lost her senses and thrown every scrap of self-respect to the wind?
Commitment. Self-respect. Shed had those things before. Or so shed believed. They had brought her nothing but heartache. Being with Quint brought her joy. And no matter how short-lived that joy was she was going to take it, savor it and be glad for it.
After Quint lit a kerosene lantern and a fat candle, he motioned for Maura to enter the small, one-room cabin. As she stepped onto the bare, wooden floor and glanced around at the crude fixtures, he said, Its a little dusty. But not bad. Ill open the windows and that should give us some fresh air.
At the front of the room, Quint unlatched two wooden squares that pushed outward to create window spaces. After hed securely propped them and the cool night air rushed in, he walked back to where she stood by a tiny table holding the burning lamp.
Alone. At last, he said with a growl of satisfaction.
Mauras heart leaped to a reckless speed as his hands settled at the sides of her waist. Youve taken a lot of trouble to get me up here, she said huskily.
In the dim glow of the lamp, she watched his gaze travel straight to her swollen lips and her loins clenched with desire.
And youre worth every minute of it.
He was not a man to hand her lines and as he pulled her into his arms, she wondered if hed actually meant the words hed whispered.
Dont go trying to figure the man now, Maura. Just remember this time with him isnt forever and youll be okay.
Closing her eyes, she turned her lips up to his and as his kiss swept her into a vortex of pleasures she forgot about his motives and plans or the condition her heart might be in tomorrow. Tonight was all about him and her being together and nothing else.
Before long he was removing her clothing and carrying her to a built-in bunk spread with a down comforter. From the small bed, she watched him undress in the dim yellow glow of the lamplight and as the soft shadows slipped fingers across his hard body, her throat thickened with emotions she didnt understand or even want to analyze.