She caught a whiff of his musky scent mingling with minty cologne, and her feminine hormones flared. So marry your precious Teresa and prove you and I are ancient history!
His eyes slid over her. You dont look much like ancient history. You look as sassy as ever. So, no mans tamed you yet? Not even your husband?
Leave him out of this! Hes dead, you know.
Im sorry. There was genuine regret in his deep tone. This is a big place. In the middle of nowhere. It must get lonely out here.
Unimaginably lonely, especially at night, when the wind blew and the eaves groaned and the coyotes howled as she lay in the dark, her head spinning with money worries.
Shed lain awake, alone, for too long. But she had a ranch to run, son to raise, hence little time for fun.
Too aware of the hunger that sparked in Lukes green eyes and her own vulnerability, she took a step backward.
When he reached out and took her by the hand, she fought to pull it free. He held on tight, lifting her palm and inspecting it closely.
Youve been working hard. Too hard. The sympathy in his voice surprised her and temporarily lessened her anger. Without thinking, she quit tugging and leaned closer to him.
What was she doing? Softening toward him? She should fight him harder, yank her hand free, but her emotions were escalating too fast to control. His tall, powerful body and his understanding intoxicated her. Shed done without a mans passion for too long. Done without him. If only shed had an inkling shed see him today, she could have steeled herself.
Instead of trying to run, she froze. His beautiful green eyeseyes she had so adoredstared straight into hers, igniting her soul, burning away the years and the hurt and the hatred, and melting her resistance.
He lifted her callused palm to his lips and kissed it. Only then did she jerk her hand from his. You probably prefer women with soft hands.
I thought I did. These days I dont meet many women who work outside with animals the way you do. When I left Texas, I dated lots of women. Until I saw you working with Ramblin Man, I thought Id put you totally behind me.
You were so good with him. I respect that. You looked so beautiful and wild. I wish Id come back, at least once, to check on you. I suddenly realized I never said goodbye.
No you didnt. She caught herself. This isnt happening, she whispered, feeling shattered by his admission, by the sweetness of his kiss on her poor battered hand.
Something sure as hell is, he muttered, sounding angry and lost. I should have stood my ground and stayed in London.
You could always just go.
Its too late now. The damage is done. His eyes devoured hers. He stared straight into her soul, which had always belonged only to him. Ive seen you. Ive touched you. And now Im curious about a lot of things.
She didnt understand the stillness that possessed her, held her. Was she in a trance? Clasped tightly against his tall, muscular body, his heat flooding her, she could barely think, barely breathe.
It was as if she were in a dream, as if she was again caught in the vortex of the youthful passion that had nearly destroyed her. For years shed told herself shed do it differently if she was ever faced with such temptation again.
Now, here he was.
Time to smarten up, Caitlyn.
But she lifted her head, parted her lips invitingly. Her nipples tightened into pert berries, throbbing where they brushed his shirt and felt his heat. Slowly he lowered his mouth to hers, nibbling her top lip as hed done in the past, sucking on it, tasting it. Then she melted against him.
Oh, God, he muttered.
Instantly, nerves tingled in her tummy. Where he was concerned, shed always been easy. Why did he have to make her feel so good, so fast?
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck, threaded her fingers in his silky hair, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him right back. He was simply too delicious to resist.
Im going to hate you for this, she whispered, her voice thick. Most of all, Im going to hate me.
I hear you, sweetheart.
Then his tongue invaded her mouth, and sweet, urgent needs made her arch her body into his hardness. Like a mare showing heat, excitement blazed through her. She ached with needs shed never felt for any other man, not even her husband.
She knew what she was doing was wrong. Luke had hurt her, rejected her, hurt Daniel without even knowing Daniel existed. She hated him for all the lost years since hed left.
And yet there were other emotions alongside the hate. Kissing him now was like coming home after living for too many years with strangers. She couldnt get enough. She wanted him to tear off her jeans, throw her over his shoulder and carry her into the barn. She wanted to open her legs and lie down in the hay with him again.
She wanted too much. She always had.
For another long second she was alone in the universe with him. Then Ramblin Man exploded in the trailer and Lisa yelled.
As if he suddenly realized where he was and what he was doing, Lukes hands fell away. He jumped free of her with an abruptness that startled her.
Distantly, she heard Lisa soothing Ramblin Man in the round pen.
Lukes eyes hardened, and he cursed low under his breath.
In a bewildered daze, she stared at him. More than anything, she had wanted to stay in his arms, to cling to his strength, to enjoy feeling like a woman for the first time in years.
But that was impossible now.
Take your hands off me! Let me go! Caitlyn whispered needlessly. The humiliating truth was that Luke had already moved away and was no longer touching her.
He was silent for what seemed an eternity.
What was he thinking? Did he have demons she knew nothing about?
You kiss like a woman who hasnt had any in six years, he growled, glaring at her.
She stared down at the scuffed toe of her roper boots. As always, he was uncannily perceptive. The last thing she wanted him to suspect was how shed longed for him all through the lonely years of her marriage.
If you want it that bad, wed better go inside, he said. Or do you still prefer the loft? Frankly, it doesnt matter to me. All I want is to get you out of my systempermanently.
Feeling ashamed of her reaction to him, she lashed out at him, too. Ditto! I dont want you touching me againever! I want you gone! Thats what I want.
You didnt kiss me like a woman who wants me gone, sweetheart.
I dont know what came over me, but believe me, I want you gone.
Well, while I figure out your finances and Hassans motives, Ill figure out our chemistry, as well.
No! Youre going to forget that stupid kiss and gonow.
And if I go, how will you solve your money problems?
Im too upset to think about that.
Well, youd better think about it.
I cant work with you.
Youd better adjust your attitude, because you dont have a choice.
Looking every bit as upset as she felt, he shoved a lock of thick black hair back from his brow. Tell you what. Ill leave for tonight, so you can adjust to the idea of me being around. But Ill be gone for one night only. Then Im moving in until we get this mystery solved and your mess figured out. Youre fifty miles from town, and, after tonight, I dont want to waste time commuting. Youll need to make up a spare bedroom for me.
Looking every bit as upset as she felt, he shoved a lock of thick black hair back from his brow. Tell you what. Ill leave for tonight, so you can adjust to the idea of me being around. But Ill be gone for one night only. Then Im moving in until we get this mystery solved and your mess figured out. Youre fifty miles from town, and, after tonight, I dont want to waste time commuting. Youll need to make up a spare bedroom for me.
The hell you say! Do you think I would let you move into my house after what just happened? I dont want you in this state!
Do you really want me to tell Hassan you wont work with me?
Of course not. And Luke knew it.
Because I will, he said. If I tell him to pull the plug on you, hell do it.
She shook her head, not wanting to believe that.
The ranch and your horse operation will be history. I could convince him to sell everything at auction. You know what that means.
Yes. She knew. There was such a weak market for her horses, that several would be euthanized or sold to meat packers.
Hassan would never
I think I know him better than you do. He wants to help you, but if you refuse his help you will leave him no choice but to make unpleasant decisions. Do you want to lose the ranch again, like your daddy did? he continued. Only, this time there wont be a rich idiot like Robert Wakefield to marry and give it back to you.
I havent lost it yet, thank you very much! Youre only rich because of your connections to Hassan. Well, I know the real you, and maybe I dont think youre so great. My mother warned me that you were just like Bubba.
Her mother had fired Luke because he was a thief. Cait hadnt wanted to believe hed stolen cash out of her fathers truck, but when Luke had never returned or contacted her to contradict her mothers claim, the truth of his betrayal had seemed self-evident.
So, you believed her? Something flashed in his eyes. Was it pain? Or rage? Youre wrong, he said. You dont know me at all. You never did. And I didnt know you, either, or I would never have been fool enough to mistake you for a sweet, innocent girl and fall in love with you.
His startling admission flashed through her like lightning. Hed never admitted he loved her, and she wasnt about to believe him now. Believing him would only soften her heart toward him.
Love. He didnt know the meaning of the word.
Leave, she whispered.
Much to her surprise, he nodded. Like I said Im going for now. I intend to spend the afternoon talking to your accountant. I had hoped to take you with me, but it seems our new business arrangement is going to take some getting used to.
He spun on his heel and strode toward the long black limo parked in front of her house.
If only this would be the last shed ever see of him. But hed be back tomorrow, and while he was in town there was no telling what people might tell him about Daniel, especially if he asked the right questions. There had been talk at the time of her marriagetalk that had never completely died.
Even if no one talked, if Luke moved in, hed see Daniel on a daily basis. There was no way she could keep the truth a secret for long.
Better that she control how he found out.
She shut her eyes and sucked in a breath. She had to tell him the truth herself.
Wait! She ran after his tall, broad-shouldered figure.
He turned and regarded her so coldly, a chill traced down her spine. How would she ever find the courage to tell him he had a son? But she had to. Period.
Ill meet you in town a little later after I finish working with Ramblin Man, she said. What times your appointment?
He told her.
She licked her lips and said shed be there thirty minutes late. After we get through talking with Bruce, theres something I need to tell you. Something personal, she whispered awkwardly, staring anywhere but at him. Its very important. Maybe we could have coffee at Jeans Butterchurn. We can talk privately there.
His eyes narrowed. This isnt going to be good news, is it?
I guess that will depend on how you take it, she said. Its not altogether bad news, but its certainly not something I relish telling you.
Then she shook herself and stood straighter. No matter how much she dreaded her hour of confession, she wasnt going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how afraid she was.
Well, Ive got a stallion to load, she said briskly.
Later, then. He turned and headed to his limo.
Two
What the hell did she have to tell him that was so important?
It wasnt the first time shed fed him that line. On the day hed left for good, nearly six years ago, shed told him she had something important to tell him. But when hed gone to meet her in their secret place, her mother had showed up instead. Her mother had fired him and set him straight about a lot of other things, too. Caitlin planned to marry someone else.
Luke had left, but later when hed calmed down, hed called Caitlyn. Shed never answered his calls, so hed written. Shed never written back. Clearly, shed wanted him out of her life but had lacked the courage to break up with him in person.
Who cared what she had to say today? Quit thinking about it, he told himself.
As if he could. Her brown eyes had been huge, fear-filled dark orbs, her shaky tone ominous. Hed wanted to reach out and pull her close. Thank goodness he hadnt acted on that rash impulse. She didnt deserve his kindness, nor his compassion. She never had.
They say you can never go home.
As hed told Caitlyn, Luke damn sure wouldnt have come here if hed had a choice. He belonged in London, in his office, sitting at the helm of his many businesses.
But Hassan, to whom he owed everything, had prevailed.
For nearly six years, Luke Kilgore had avoided all things Texan, especially its women. He wanted no one with dark hair or fiery dark eyes that held a hint of vulnerability; he wanted no one with a soft drawl that sounded too much like a cats purr.
Now, sprawled in the back of his leased stretch limo on this fools errand, trying to pretend he was relaxed, Lukes fingers clenched, wrinkling the latest of his CEOs reports about Kommstarrs disgruntled employees. Luke thrust it aside impatiently. Steves figures in defense of his out-of-control expenditures at Kommstarr made no sense. Luke didnt like firing people any better than Steve did, but some cuts had to be made.
Hell, Luke had hardly been able to concentrate since hed landed in San Antonio last night and felt the warmth, even in winter, of the vast, starlit Texas sky. So different from Londons gray, damp chill that all hed been able to think about was her. In his hotel in downtown San Antonio hed even dreamed of her.
Why was she scared?
Caitlyn Cooper Wakefield.
Now that hed seen her, touched her, tasted her, shed scrambled his brain just like shed done in the past. How could she still get to him?
Six years ago shed merely been Caitlyn Cooper. A respected ranchers only daughter. She should have been off-limits to the motherless son of the countys number one drunk, Bubba Kilgore. She would have beenif shed obeyed her daddy or if Luke had had enough sense to keep his hands off her.