Luke compared the woman she was now to the slim girl shed been back then. Shed been more cute than beautiful, with a freckled nose and wide, dark, innocent eyes that had sparkled with curiosity and laughter. And shed laughed a lot. At least, in his company.
She hadnt laughed today.
Back then shed seemed to find him as exciting as hed found her. From that first afternoon, when hed stomped onto her daddys porch, desperate for a job, and shed refused to invite him in, there had been vital chemistry between them.
She wasnt nearly as beautiful as the women he dated now, and she didnt dress as fashionably. Shed never cared about those things. Deep down he admired her because she wasnt vain. Her face was narrow and angular, her thick black hair unruly. She hadnt worn any makeup. Did it matter? There was something real, something genuine about her, and she sure as hell knew how to kiss.
He wished he could forget how seductively soft and warm her lips had felt beneath his own, forget how good shed tasted, forget how hard hed become even before hed grabbed her this afternoon. Lacking polish, she was all fire and sass, making him burn.
Her hands had climbed his chest and wrapped around his neck as if she knew she belonged to him and no one else. When shed leaned into him and pulled him close, hed felt the heat of every female curve.
Shed been hotter than ever, maybe because shed known exactly what she wanted. Or maybe shed missed him really missed him, as hed missed her.
Like the kiss today, the memory of the long-ago evening when hed made love to her still had the power to sear him. He hadnt gone looking for trouble that evening, but it sure as hell found him.
Hed knocked on her door, looking for her daddy. Hed needed an advance against his wages since Bubba had drunk up the rent. Shed come to the door in tight shorts that skimmed her curvy bottom and said, Maybe hes in the barn.
Only, shed known he wasnt when shed followed Luke out there, closing the big, heavy doors behind her, calling to him across the dark in that raspy purr of hers. Then shed undone her hair so that it tumbled around her shoulders. When shed held out her arms and told him she loved him, hed tried to talk some sense into her, even as his heart thundered.
You dont know what youre doing, girl, hed warned.
But Ive always known how I feel, she whispered, ever since I first saw you.
Youre too young to know anything. Folks around here think Im nothing.
I dont care. I dont want to go my whole life wanting you like this and never having had you. She moved toward him. Just once. Thats all Im asking for.
No one can know, he said.
Nobody but us, shed whispered, sliding into his arms, her soft curves melting against his hard muscles.
Shed felt right, perfect.
Just us, hed murmured, kissing her passionately.
For him, that time with her had been special. No other woman had ever come close to mattering so much. But then, no other woman had used her mother to throw him out like he was nothing. That had been equally hard to forget.
Had she just wanted to scratch an itch? Had she known then she would have to marry Wakefield if she wanted to get her precious ranch back? For years Luke had tormented himself with those questions.
Shed been the first girl hed lovedand shed be the last. Shed taught him love held a dark power. Shed taught him there were worse things than having a mean old man for a father. Shed taught him there were worse things than being born poor. Shed taken a hatchet to his heart and soul.
Swearing she loved him, shed given herself to him on a bed of hay that night in the barn. Then, as soon as she could, shed married Robert Wakefield, no doubt because he was the son of the banker whod repossessed her familys ranch.
But life had a way of being messy, and nothing had worked out as shed planned. Robert had died. The ranch was in trouble again, and she was a struggling widow with a son.
A son. Funny that he hadnt seen the kid. Not that he wanted to see Wakefields kid, who was living proof that shed been with another man these past six years.
Some people were good at letting go. Luke envied them. Not that he didnt go through the motions of a man whod moved on. He owned a glamorous penthouse in London. Invitations to his parties were sought after. He dated the most beautiful women in Europe. Except for his friend Nico Romano, an Italian prince with an independent wife from Texas, his married male business associates said they envied Luke his carefree life.
Although he didnt pick up the report again, Luke barely spared a glance out the tinted windows. He didnt have to. The harsh brown scrubland was deeply engraved into his consciousness.
Hed accomplish this errand for Hassan as quickly as possible. Then hed figure out once and for all what was behind Hassans obsessive interest in Caitlyn.
Not that he hadnt tried to find out after Hassan had met her at Keeneland. When Luke hadnt reacted to the Wakefield name, Hassan had pressed, asking him if hed known Caitlyn Wakefield personally.
Yes, I worked for her father.
And? Did you care for her?
It doesnt matter. Her mother fired me. I left Texas and never saw any of them again. Why do you want to know?
You dont talk about Texas much.
Im not all that proud of who I was in Texas, or of how people treated me. Its something Ive tried to put behind me.
Hed thought that was the end of it. Then Hassan had asked Caitlyn to help him with Sahara and had invited Luke to Deauville without telling him hed hired Caitlyn as Saharas trainer. When Luke had seen her working with the stallion, hed asked Hassan again why he was so interested in her. It would have been so much easier to use a world-class French trainer instead of bringing Caitlyn from the States.
Again, Hassan had been evasive, saying only that her advice had saved him from making a particularly disastrous purchase.
Why did you invite me to dine with the two of you?
Luke had asked. Its as if you are determined to get us together.
Sometimes we are rash in our youth. Sometimes its a mistake to lose touch with old friends.
Not in this case.
You could be wrong, my son.
Well, I wont come for dinner if you insist on including her.
I do insist on her presence tonight.
Then Ill pass.
You shall be missed, my son.
Hassans stubborn behavior and fascination with Caitlyn made no sense, but Luke would get to the bottom of it. Then, hopefully, within the week, hed be home with Teresa.
Luke saw a flash of movement out the window. A handsome blood bay horse, ridden by a small figure, sprang across the road right in front of the limo. The driver honked and hit the brakes too fast and too hard. The bay spooked and started bucking.
Tires squealing, the limo fishtailed in a swirl of gravel, sliding to a standstill in front of a prickly pear cactus. The pages of Steves report came loose and flew all over the limos plush interior.
The riderless red horse plunged wildly away from the veils of dust near the car, racing across the depopulated landscape. Then he stopped and circled back, staring at something on the ground. When the dust settled, Luke saw a small boy lying still and lifeless on the road.
The riderless red horse plunged wildly away from the veils of dust near the car, racing across the depopulated landscape. Then he stopped and circled back, staring at something on the ground. When the dust settled, Luke saw a small boy lying still and lifeless on the road.
Luke leaped out of the limo at the same moment as his driver.
I didnt see him, sir! Not until it was nearly too late!
It wasnt your fault, Luke assured the man.
He came out of nowhere.
See to the car. Luke strode toward the prostrate boy, whod stirred at the sound of their voices.
A cowboy came running from the pasture. The boy, he got away from me, señor.
When the kid moaned, Luke felt some of his tension ease. The car hadnt hit the boy. Hed just been bucked. Maybe he was okay. At the same age, Luke had ridden just as recklessly and had taken many a hard fall without doing permanent damage. In some ways, kids were tougher than adults.
Careless of the fine wool and silk blend of his custom-made suit, Luke knelt on the ground beside the boy.
The kid groaned and sat up, blinking at him suspiciously. The boys red-checked cowboy shirt was torn in two places. He raised a quick, thin hand to shade his tanned brow, squinting at the brilliant afternoon sun coming from behind Luke. The boys lips parted in a gap-toothed grin.
You okay ? Luke began, feeling a jolt of recognition.
Sorry, mister. I
The kid had jet black hair and green eyesgreen eyes that were the exact same shade as his own.
Lukes gut twisted. Emerald eyes stared straight into his for an endless moment, during which Luke felt something near his heart shift.
Luke didnt believe in coincidences, and Hassan placed an inordinate value on sons. Was this boy the answer? Did Hassan think ?
Had Hassan seen Caitlyns son and noticed the resemblance to Luke? Had Hassan met the boy at Keeneland?
Suddenly Luke couldnt breathe. It was as if a band had wrapped around his chest and squeezed. In a weird paniche never panickedhe fought to ignore dozens of questions that bombarded his stunned mind.
I asked you if youre okay? Lukes voice was hard and strange, unrecognizable. Anything hurt? Broken? Are you dizzy?
The kid felt real. The rest of his lifeLondon, Teresa, his businesses, his unstoppable ambition, even Hassanbelonged to a dream that had nothing to do with his life, which was here.
Im fine, but Ive got to catch that damn Demon before he bolts for the barn and I have to walk all the way back.
Dont cuss.
Sorry!
The kid didnt look the least bit sorry as he sat up and got ready to spring to his feet.
Luke put a hand on his shoulder. Not so fast. Why dont you sit here a minute or two, catch your breath.
I said Im okay, the boy protested impatiently, looking defiant.
Just as Luke would have done at the same age.
Right. And I say its too soon to be so sure. Whats your name?
Daniel. His bottom lip curling, the kid stared at the ground.
You got a last name?
Course I do! Wakefield. There was fierce pride in his low tone, the kind of pride Luke had never felt for his biological father. When the kid tried unsuccessfully to shake loose from Lukes iron grip, his bottom lip grew even more prominent.
My names Luke Kilgore.
Glad to meet you, Mr. Kilgore, Daniel said automatically.
Glad to meet you, too.
The boy on the ground didnt look a thing like the blond, blue-eyed Wakefield bunch. Lukes mind raced backward.
How old are you, Daniel? Luke asked slowly, as unwanted pressure pounded in his temples.
This couldnt be happening. But it was. The angry kid looked just like hed looked at the same age.
Five.
The number was a sucker punch in the gut.
Damn her. Was this why she had married Wakefield so quickly? Had she been pregnant? Had she slept with them both and hoped to pass off his baby as the wealthier Wakefields to get the ranch back? Had she despised the thought she might be carrying a Kilgore?
Luke clenched and unclenched his fists. When one speculated, one was usually wrong. What mattered now was finding out the truth.
Does your mother know where you are? Luke asked in a low, even tone. That you were riding Demon bareback?
The kid tensed and then lowered his eyes guiltily. Sure. I was with Manuel, so its okay.
Right, Luke said softly. What do you say we catch Demon so the two of you can run along home, back to the ranch, so your mother wont worry?
Shes not worrying. Shes too busy getting ready for her meeting with some guy.
That would be me.
Oh. Are you rich? Some car, huh? Long. His eyes lit up. Like a bus.
Not exactly. Its called a limousine. Limo for short. What do you say we catch your horse?
Luke and Daniel stood up together, and Manuel joined them. Demons ears shot forward and he whinnied. As Luke and the boy dusted themselves off, the blood bay gelding hung his head and licked his lips.
Good sign, Luke thought as Manuel slowly approached the horse.
The well-proportioned gelding didnt run away. He stood docilely, allowing Manuel to retrieve the reins. Manuel swung himself onto the horse. Then Luke lifted Daniel up to the mounted man.
A shadow passed over Daniels face as he looked down. I got you all dirty. Youre gonna tell Mom on me.
Im not sure what Ill say to her. But Ill catch up to you two at the house, Luke said, his tone hard as he dusted himself off again.
Did you come to buy a horse or something? the kid asked.
Or something.
Good, cause me and Mom could sure use the money.
Moneyhad she married Wakefield because his daddy had been a banker and hed owned Wild Horse Ranch? Or to give her baby a name?
When had she learned she was pregnant? Was her pregnancy the reason she hadnt taken his calls or answered his letters?
See you, Daniel said, dismissing Luke casually.
Then the boy leaned forward with the ease of a natural rider. Soon boy, man and horse were cantering down the shoulder of the road while Luke stood still and silent, watching them.
Luke identified with that half-wild kid. Almost as if Luke was riding Demon himself, he felt the calves of those thin legs gripping the powerful animal. They were his legs, his knees squeezing tight, his lean body leaning forward, his hands lightly holding the reins. It was him urging the great creature faster, faster, until the ride became exhilarating.
Breathe, Daniel. Dont forget to breathe, Luke whispered.
Then horse, boy and man were flying, airborne, united, and Lukes own soul rushed after them. He hadnt felt this alive in years.
What if the kid was his son?
No sooner had the trio melted into the haze of the horizon than a knot of longing formed in Lukes throat. Should he have let Daniel back on the beast so soon? The boy had said he was fine, and he was with Manuel. But was the boy okay? What if he had a concussion?
Acute parental anxiety was new to him and made him feel foolish. The kid probably wasnt even his. But whether he was or he wasnt, Lukes concern caused beads of sweat to break out on his brow.