Heartland

by Sherryl Woods

  Or his.

  She was burning, her body awakening from its long slumber to a white-hot siege of desire. She was rapidly slipping beyond thought into a whirlwind of feelings. Forgotten were Steven’s shower, the food being prepared downstairs, even the past, as she was swept away by the delight of the present.

  And then she heard the soft whimper. It was little more than a sigh, but it did what nothing else could have done. It drew her back to reality.

  “Jennifer,” Steven said, sighing heavily.

  She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, love. It’s probably just as well. I want to savor every minute of this, and I was in grave danger of losing control and taking you right here in the hall.”

  “An interesting thought,” she commented, then gave him an impish smile. “Hold onto it.”

  He playfully slapped her backside as she twirled away from him. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

  * * *

  Steven found himself singing in the shower. Exhaustion vanished under the hard, steamy spray of water. He hadn’t felt this alive in years. He knew Lara was responsible. Her absence had taught him that much. He could exist without her. He had become successful at business, sought after by women, highly regarded by his friends, but it had meant nothing. He had felt empty inside. Only Lara had been able to fill the emptiness, to make him whole. His sweet, sensuous, spirited Lara. This time he would never let her go.

  Though he’d departed years ago with the very best intentions, he regretted leaving more than he could ever tell her. He felt responsible for the dimming of the bright light that had once shone in her eyes, for the sadness that had replaced it. If it was within his power, he would give her back the spirit and laughter he had taken from her. At the very least he would spend a lifetime trying.

  Anxious to be with her, to explore the satin texture of her skin, to smell the fragrance of her body’s natural perfume, to bury himself in her warmth, he hurried with his dressing. He ran his fingers through his damp hair, yanked on clean jeans, then pulled on a shirt that he didn’t bother to button as he walked barefoot down the hall to the guest room where Jennifer had been staying.

  The vision that greeted him was like something out of a dream. Jennifer was drawn up on her side under a sheet, her blond hair a halo of wispy curls against her flushed cheeks. Lara was sitting on the floor beside the bed, her head resting against the edge, her own blond hair spilling over her shoulders. The long waves gleamed in the faint glow of the bedside lamp. One hand, the nails broken, but looking delicate and lovely nonetheless, rested on Jennifer’s shoulder in a tender caress.

  As he drew closer, Steven realized Lara had fallen asleep. Her breath rose and fell lightly, her lips parted as though awaiting a kiss. Her position appeared thoroughly uncomfortable, and yet she looked utterly at peace. He found himself staring at her, his breath caught in his throat in wonder. How had he ever walked away from her? How had he left behind such an inviting woman who’d been filled with such tempestuous passion? It had been the act of a fool.

  Yet if he’d stayed back then or taken her with him, he might very well have destroyed the way they felt for each other. He’d known nothing of love in his life. His parents’ marriage had been a bitter mockery, and their hatred of each other had created indifference, sometimes even animosity toward him. His own brief marriage had been an immature attempt at rebellion. He had basked in the warm glow, not only of Lara’s open display of emotion, but in the laughter and affection of her whole family. He had wanted so much to be a part of what they had, and yet he had feared that his own inadequacies were too great, that he would never learn to give as unselfishly as they did.

  For a while after he’d left, he’d done his best to prove his decision right. He’d become colder, more driven than ever, his manner, to all but a few, harsh or indifferent. But each time he had pulled away or exploded in anger, guilt plagued him. He saw Lara’s face, heard her chiding him. Then, her point made, she would open her arms to him just the same, loving him in spite of himself. Sooner or later, he had had to come back to a love like that.

  His discovery that she had never wed had saddened him when he considered the waste. Yet he had been undeniably grateful. She had not moved beyond his reach after all. Few second chances were granted in life, and he intended to make the most of this one.

  Now, though he could have gazed at her for hours, at last he whispered, “Lara.”

  Blue eyes blinked open in confusion. Then her lips curved into an enticing smile. “Hi,” she murmured sleepily.

  “Hi, yourself. Maybe I should get you into bed and forget about dinner.”

  “You keep having the most interesting ideas.”

  “That one’s not interesting,” he said with regret. “You’re obviously exhausted.”

  “Oh, you meant to put me into bed alone.”

  “It might be wise. The past two days have been quite an ordeal.”

  “We were never wise, Steven. Please, don’t let’s start now.”

  He drew in a sharp breath at the blatant appeal in her voice. “What am I going to do with you, Lara Danvers?”

  “Just love me.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, I do. I will.”

  He helped her to her feet, but when she would have come directly into his arms, he shook his head and steered her from the room. “Dinner first.”

  Before they’d reached the living room, where a huge tray of sandwiches had been left on a table beside the open window, Steven was convinced that he wasn’t hungry. He had only urged the dinner to give Lara time to reconsider, to be sure she wasn’t simply caught up in the drama of the past two days and being swept away on a tide of overwhelming emotions. But when he tasted the first bite of food, he realized how long it had been since he’d eaten. He’d finished three sandwiches before he even said another word to the woman who was watching him with amusement.

  “I would have sworn a few minutes ago that this was a delaying tactic,” she taunted.

  “It was,” he confessed. Then he grinned at her. “Now that I’m satisfied, though, I have another hunger nagging at me.”

  “And what’s that?” The question was all innocent curiosity, but the gleam in her eyes was pure seduction.

  “You, my sweet.” He beckoned. “Come here.”

  Though her hands trembled, she rose and came to him, standing before him tall and proud. He reached out and clasped her hands to still them. “Please, don’t be afraid of me.”

  “I’m not. I’m afraid of us,” she admitted. “Of what you do to me.”

  Her candor surprised him, but he understood at once exactly what she meant. He, too, was awed by the power of the emotions that had captured them and held them both for so many years. “We can wait.”

  A faint smile tugged at her lips. “Maybe you can, but I’ve already been waiting for eleven years. Love me, Steven. Please.”

  A groan tore through him. His blood surged, hot and swift. He was on his feet at once, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her back up the stairs.

  “I feel like the trembling maiden in some Gothic novel,” she said, the words whispered against his bare chest, her arms slipping past his shirt to caress the taut muscles of his back. “As if I’m being carried off to meet my fate.”

  “I am your fate,” he whispered. “I’ll prove that to you tonight.”

  * * *

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered as the pale light of moonbeams whispered across her body. “You’re exactly the way I remembered you.”

  “You told me I’d gotten skinny.”

  “I must have been crazy. All the curves are still here, and I want to explore every one of them.”

  “Do you plan on one of the long Lewis and Clark expeditions?” she inquired in a tone that was equal parts of amusement and impatience.
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  “I just want this to be good for you,” he said, intensifying his touch. “I don’t want to hurry you.”

  “Then I’m afraid you’ll have to keep your hands to yourself.”

  He shook his head. “You’re asking the impossible.”

  “In that case,” she began, and before he realized her intention, she had lifted herself on top of him until she was astride his thighs, “I’d better take charge.”

  Laughing, he said, “There’s never been a time since I’ve known you that you weren’t in charge.”

  Chapter Seven

  Fingers of sunlight crept into the room until they brushed across Lara’s bare shoulders. She felt the gentle strokes of golden warmth and awoke with a sleepy, satisfied smile. Even without the bright promise of dawn, today would have been a day to celebrate. Not only was Kelly safe and well, but love, the most precious of all gifts, had been given back to her.

  Still not quite able to believe it, she rolled to her side and touched Steven’s cheek. Caressing the light stubble of his beard and the warmth of his skin reassured her that last night had not been a dream. He was very real, and as a lover he was everything she’d remembered—gentle and considerate, demanding, yet giving far more than he took. Though the emotional and physical cost of the rescue must have been high, Steven had not let her see it. He had shown her only the strength and tenderness and passion that had been missing from her life for so long. Through the night he had reawakened her senses, until her body sang once more with the joy of being desired and fulfilled.

  “Only with you, dear one,” she whispered, her touch lingering on his cheek. “Only with you.”

  Suddenly she heard a scampering in the hallway. The door to the room burst open.

  “Aunt Lara! Aunt Lara!” Jennifer shouted excitedly, before skidding to a stop at the sight of Steven. She regarded him with a puzzled frown.

  Thoroughly disconcerted by the intrusion, Lara dragged the sheet up to her neck. She glanced down to discover that Steven had opened one eye to see what all the fuss was about. Her obvious discomfort brought a grin to his lips, but he quickly banished it as he waited in infuriating silence to see how she planned to handle the awkward situation. She glared at him, wondering if there was any way the floor could open up and swallow the two of them. Or, perhaps, only Steven.

  Before she could think of some explanation to offer her silent, wide-eyed niece, Mrs. Marston hurried into the room, her apron flapping, her lips pursed.

  “So, there you are,” she said to Jennifer. “I thought I told you that your aunt was still asleep and that you weren’t to go bothering her.”

  “But I knew she wouldn’t mind if I woke her up,” Jennifer protested indignantly. “I had to look really hard to find her.”

  She peered at Steven again. “Why are you here, Mr. Drake?” she asked in a voice that was both confused and unconsciously prim.

  Lara shot a fierce scowl of warning in his direction, and Steven promptly choked back a laugh.

  “Well,” he said, clearing his throat and carefully avoiding her eyes. Lara awaited his explanation with almost as much interest as Jennifer. “Umm. Actually your Aunt Lara had a bad dream during the night. I came in to make sure she was okay, and I guess I fell asleep.”

  It was a noble attempt and Lara loved him for it, but Jennifer still appeared skeptical. “But you don’t have any clothes on,” she pointed out.

  This time it was Lara who had to swallow hard to keep from chuckling. There was no denying Steven’s state of undress, not with nothing more than a discreetly placed sheet between him and total embarrassment. Fortunately Mrs. Marston, her own lips twitching with mirth, saved the day by taking Jennifer firmly by the hand.

  “Come along, young lady, and let your aunt get dressed if you want to get home to see your sister.”

  Jennifer’s eyes brightened. “Oh, yes, please hurry, Aunt Lara. I want to see Kelly and Mommy and Daddy.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. I’ll be as fast as I can,” Lara promised.

  When the door had closed behind her niece, Lara hardly dared to meet Steven’s gaze. When she did, his eyes glittered brightly and dangerously.

  “I suppose you’ll have to marry me now,” he said lightly. Lara’s eyes widened. “Otherwise it’ll be Jennifer prodding us all the way to the church with a shotgun. Do you suppose she gets that stern, disapproving attitude from her father?”

  “What I think is that we took her by surprise. I doubt if she fully understood the implications.”

  “Too bad,” Steven said. “I was sort of looking forward to the wedding.”

  His bantering tone kept Lara from responding the way she wanted to, by throwing herself into his arms and agreeing to marry him at the first possible moment. Instead, she said in her sassiest manner, “Give me a proper proposal, and we’ll see what we can work out.”

  She didn’t wait to see if that proposal was forthcoming. For all of his attentiveness in the past, he had never once suggested that they marry. He had talked of a future together. He had even gone so far as to discuss their house, to think of taking her away with him. But the subject of making a permanent commitment had been skirted with surprising agility. She saw no reason to expect that had changed, and for the moment it didn’t matter. He was back in her life, and that was more than enough.

  Lara leaped from the warm bed before she could be caught by Steven’s outstretched hand and pulled back into an embrace from which there would be no escaping.

  Unperturbed by her rejection, Steven boldly followed her into the shower where he made a very tempting, seductively murmured offer to scrub her back. That delayed their departure to the farm by an hour. When they finally got downstairs, Jennifer was practically dancing around the room in impatience.

  “You took forever, Aunt Lara,” she chided.

  “Sorry, sweet pea. We’re ready now.”

  Jennifer regarded Steven eagerly. “Are you coming, too?”

  “You bet I am,” he said.

  “He saved your sister,” Lara reminded her. “Of course, he wants to see how she’s doing.”

  “Oh boy, then let’s hurry, Aunt Lara. I want Mr. Drake to meet my mommy and daddy, too.” She bounded down the lane ahead of them, turning repeatedly to urge them to hurry. Lara caught her excitement and found herself tugging on Steven’s hand.

  But once the farmhouse was in sight and Lara could hear the angry voices all the way across the yard, her anticipation turned to dread. A heated exchange between her brother and sister-in-law would have been distressing enough under any circumstances, but it was especially so because she obviously was the subject of this one. She clung more tightly to Steven’s hand. She suddenly wanted to take Jennifer and turn back, but it was too late. It would be cowardly to run, and there was no point to it.

  “Stay out of it, Megan!” Tommy snapped, his voice carrying clearly. “I don’t trust Drake. You weren’t here when it happened. You don’t know what that man did to her. He very nearly destroyed her. He’s obviously the kind of man who gets his kicks from going around seducing women and then walking out on them.”

  Lara gazed at Steven in mute apology.

  “He’s only saying what he feels,” Steven said. “I can’t condemn him for that. Besides, it’s true. I did hurt you terribly.”

  “Yes, but that’s in the past. My God, you just saved his child. He should at least give you—” Before she could complete the thought, Megan’s equally furious voice cut through the air.

  “I think you’re misjudging him. I see what he’s doing for Lara now. Didn’t you see how they looked at each other last night? He loves her and she loves him. If you’d really wanted to help her, you’d have spent the last years trying to get them back together, instead of encouraging her anger.”

  “She had every right to be angry.”

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nbsp; “Of course, she did. But it didn’t give her a moment’s satisfaction, did it? Can’t you be glad that she’s finally happy? For the first time since you brought me here to live when we got married, your sister actually seems ready to live life again. If you can’t be supportive, you’re the one who ought to stay out of it.”

  Jennifer turned a distraught face up to Lara. “Why are Mommy and Daddy fighting?”

  “It’s just a disagreement, baby,” she said, then set her chin at a defiant tilt. “And I think it’s just about time it ended.”

  Lara threw open the screen door and marched into the kitchen. Tommy and Megan glanced up guiltily, their faces flushed.

  “Enough!” Lara declared. “I will not have the two of you fighting over the way I live my life.” She faced Tommy and said more gently, “It is my life, you know. I have the right to make this choice, whether you approve or not.”

  Tommy’s gaze went from her to Steven and back again. Finally his angry expression relaxed, and some of the tension went out of his shoulders. “I just don’t want you to be hurt again, Sis.”

  “It won’t happen, Tommy,” Steven said, drawing the younger man’s attention. He put an arm possessively around Lara’s waist. “I’ve done my best to explain to Lara what happened back then, and she’s accepted my word. I’m back in her life to stay this time, if she’ll have me.”

  Lara waited with bated breath as Tommy absorbed this declaration from a man he’d once admired, but come to distrust. He gave Lara an intense perusal. “You’re really happy, Sis? When we left here a few weeks ago, you wouldn’t even go within a hundred yards of his property line. Do you actually trust him now?”

  “He saved Kelly,” she said simply. “He was there for me all through that. How could I not trust him? Besides, even though I fought admitting it, this is what I always wanted. Even Megan could see that.”