Sunset Seduction

by Charlene Sands

  * * *

  Audrey threw up in the toilet bowl. The queasiness came on suddenly when she walked into her bedroom. She had just enough time to make it to the bathroom. “Mercy.” She leaned against the wall afterward, holding her pulsating stomach and waiting for it to settle. Thankfully, the slight tremors ebbed after a few minutes and she tossed off her clothes to step into the shower.

  She wasn’t prone to upsets like this. She’d always had a cast-iron stomach. Casey said she took after their dad. He could eat ice cream and pizza in the morning without any rebellion.

  The warming rain of the water eased her agitated nerves. Her body had shaken so badly after her fight with Luke that she’d felt the effects way down in her belly. It had throbbed with anger and frustration. He’d treated her like a child today. He didn’t give her the trust she’d needed. He’d been stubborn and bossy, just like Casey. She didn’t want to trade one demanding overseer for another. What was the point in that?

  And then he’d thrown the final punch to her gut. Katherine.

  The thought of Luke with Kat Grady had made her stomach ache. She couldn’t hide it, so she’d made a mad dash out of the barn. Thankfully, he’d let her go and hadn’t questioned her.

  Her stomach seemed fine now, but her heart was another matter. She couldn’t bank her jealousy. It was crazy. She hadn’t seen Luke for years. He’d probably had dozens of girlfriends, gone on hundreds of dates since his rodeo days.

  But you’re here now…and have to witness it.

  Audrey threw herself into unpacking the boxes from Susanna that had arrived today.

  As she lifted one item after another, her tummy was soothed at seeing her familiar things. She put away a few pairs of delicately worn jeans, some blouses, her favorite white cotton undies and bra, a framed picture of Susanna and her in high school and another of Casey and Luke with her as a very young girl standing between them. Then she came to the only photo she had of her mother and father, which was laminated and wrapped in a plastic bag for protection. It was wallet-size and tearing at the edges. The picture always made Audrey long for something that was long since gone—a true family. She hugged the photo to her chest and closed her eyes. The pain of their loss was never far from her mind.

  She put that picture in her underwear drawer, on the top and to the side, to keep it from getting crumpled, and then set the other frames atop the dresser, one on each end.

  Susanna was a good friend. She knew what Audrey needed.

  She’d also sent along Jewel’s favorite water bowl and feeding dish along with kitty treats and cat toys. “You are good to go now,” she said, tossing Jewel a mouse squeak toy that was three-quarters demolished. The cat gave it a swat and then took a chew, fully occupied and purring.

  Audrey wouldn’t dwell on where Luke was tonight. She skipped her own dinner entirely. Her stomach needed a rest and she didn’t trust herself to eat. But her mouth felt dry and her body needed hydration so she took a stroll to the kitchen.

  The house was eerily quiet and dark. She flipped on the lights and poured herself a glass of lemonade. And as she sipped the drink, she wandered over to the oak double French doors and gazed out. The moon was in full force, round and shining like a night beacon, streaming light onto the Slade pool. The glistening waters, so still, so tranquil, reflected back with a twinkle of invitation.

  “Not tonight,” she mumbled. She finished her drink and padded back to her room. Slipping easily into her T-shirt, she sank into the cozy comfort of the bed. She stroked Jewel behind the ear with one hand and clicked on the TV remote control with the other. This was what her life had turned out to be. In bed early, sitting next to her cat and watching TV.

  Her phone barked. “Ruff, ruff.” Incoming text. It was probably Susanna wanting to know if the box had arrived safely. Grateful for the interruption, she grabbed her phone and read the text message slicing across the screen.

  Are you awake?

  It was Luke. She glanced at the clock. Nine-thirty. Her heart sped. Was he home this early? She hadn’t heard him come in.

  Yes. Hot date over already?

  There was a long pause before the next message came through.

  Nothing hot about it.

  You have my sympathy.

  Not really. Inside, she was doing backflips.

  Are you home?

  Sitting out back. Beautiful night.

  I know.

  Want to join me?

  Yes. Yes. Yes. She held her breath and typed.

  I’m still mad at you.

  I have beer.

  Her stomach couldn’t handle alcohol.

  Will I get an apology?

  Another long pause. Audrey may have pushed her luck. She wanted to see Luke, but it couldn’t always be on his terms. She had to stand her ground. She was hired to do a job here and Luke was being bullheaded.

  Maybe. Could use some company.

  The maybe was promising, but it was the last part of the text that broke down her anger and ripped into her heart. Luke needed a friend. He might have had a tough night tonight, for all she knew. After all, he’d come home early. He needed someone to talk to. How could she refuse him that?

  She jumped from the bed and donned her clothes, typing in the words that secured her a seat next to him.

  I’ll be right there.

  * * *

  She sat on a pool chair facing the water and the great pastures beyond. Luke sat next to her, sipping beer. For a while, they just sat there quietly, Luke deep in his own thoughts. It was nice knowing he felt comfortable enough with her not to have to make small talk. There was a connection between them that felt right.

  After a while, Luke toyed with the bottle he’d just drained, palming it from one hand to the other. “You know,” he began, “I’ve been thinking that I’ve been a little hard on you.”

  Audrey sat still, her breath stuck in her throat.

  “You know your way around horses and I have to trust in that. It’s just that I’m used to worrying over you, and Casey would hang my hide if anything happened to you on my watch. Trib is a perplexing case. He’s hard to break and he doesn’t trust anyone. I found that out the hard way and I don’t want a repeat of my mistake happening to you.”

  Audrey put resolution in her quiet words. “I understand your concern. But, if anything happened to me, it wouldn’t be your fault. I take full responsibility for my actions. You don’t have to protect me.”

  His eyes narrowed and he ran a hand back and forth over his forehead. “I know that, I guess.”

  “Are you sorry you hired me?”

  He gave her a quick, guilty look and took a long time to answer. “No.”

  She didn’t quite believe him. “Then let me do my job.”

  He began nodding slowly. “Okay, okay. But I want a daily report about your progress.”

  “Meaning you want to check up on me.”

  He grinned and then defended his reasoning. “You’re like my kid sister.”

  “I’m not a kid. And I’m not your sister.”

  There was force behind her words, and Luke blinked at her tone and then stared at her. “I guess I’m striking out with females today.”

  Audrey let her frustration drop. She was curious about his date and took that as an opening to bring up the subject. “You had a lukewarm date with good old Katherine?”

  Luke focused his gaze on the pasture. He wouldn’t look at her. “I broke it off.”

  She’d been ready to do more mental backflips, but Luke sounded too miserable for her to start celebrating. “What happened?”

  He shrugged. “It was never much of anything. We’re friendly. We talked tonight and I figured it was best to lay it on the line. It’s not in me to pretend something I don’t feel. She’s nice and all, but something is off…. Can’t figure out what that is. And it’s serious stuff when a baby is involved. I think mostly she’s lonely and a little worried. She’s caring for the baby’s great-aunt and her health isn’t so good.�
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  “How did she take you breaking it off?”

  “She said she understood, but I feel like a heel.”

  “You did the right thing, Luke.”

  He gave his head a shake. “I couldn’t walk in there and pretend to feel something for her I didn’t feel. I don’t plan on making the same mistakes my folks made.”

  “Your parents didn’t love each other?”

  “They did in their own way. But it wasn’t the kind of love you build on. There were business reasons for the marriage and then Logan came along and they stuck it out. But my father wasn’t happy and when he found the woman who could make him happy, he had to let her go. I think he died regretting it.”

  Audrey’s heart ached for both of his parents. It wasn’t the way a woman wanted to be loved. And it wasn’t the way a man wanted to love. Halfway. Audrey had enough halves in her own life to know she wanted it all.

  This was the first time Luke had confided anything so personal to her. He was feeling low and had wanted her company.

  As a friend.

  She could be that to him any day of the week. She took his hand in hers. They sat there quietly together, comfortable in the silence. “I forgive you, by the way.”

  Luke smiled. “I didn’t apologize.”

  “Yes, you did. You just don’t know it yet.”

  * * *

  Audrey had promised Luke she’d be extremely careful working with Trib today. He was off for an day-long business trip to Vegas this morning and she’d seen the concern on his face and question in his eyes before he left. Giving her the freedom she needed troubled him. He felt such responsibility. That was the reason that she hadn’t spilled the truth last night. They’d been alone and sharing confidences by the pool. It would have been the perfect time, if Luke hadn’t been feeling down. But her news would have sent him over the edge.

  At least that’s what she told herself.

  Dressed and ready for a full day, Audrey waved to Hunter as she made her way into the barn. “Good morning,” she said.

  “Hi, Audrey. I’ve got Felicia, Starlight and Melody already turned out in the corral. You want to exercise Belle and Buck and I’ll get the others?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it before it gets too hot for them. You want to ride together this morning?”

  “We could do that, surely.”

  Audrey liked Hunter. He was genuine and good-natured if not a little bit shy. During their rides she got a chance to know him a little better. They had one thing in common, their love of horses. He’d been practically raised on Sunset Ranch; Ward Halliday, his father, had been the head wrangler here for over twenty years. Ward had been a good friend to Randall Slade and every so often Hunter would recite a story from back in the day. The Slade boys weren’t angels in their youth and Audrey loved hearing tales of their antics.

  After the morning ride, she spent the better part of the day washing down and grooming the horses. Every few hours, she would pay a visit to Trib. She let him see her. She wanted him to know she was there and would be returning time and again. She wanted him to become familiar with her.

  “I’m here and I’m coming back soon. Don’t you worry,” she’d say.

  The horse didn’t respond, except to look at her with cautious eyes.

  Other than Luke, Ward was the only hand allowed to turn him out to his special corral. One day soon, Audrey would do that. She would also ride him.

  For now, each time she was about to exit the paddock, she would leave something special for the stallion on the ground. A few sugar cubes. A scoop of oats. A carrot.

  She’d walk out of the barn and into the hot Nevada sunshine, putting her ear to the barn door. She’d listen and, after a few minutes, hear Trib wander over and gobble up his treat.

  At the end of the day, Audrey entered the Slade home feeling a sense of accomplishment. She hummed through her shower and dressed in her new clothes, leaving her long blond hair down for a change.

  Sophia had invited her to the cottage when she found out Luke would be gone for the day. But Audrey suspected Luke had something to do with that invitation. She didn’t mind. She liked spending time with Sophia and Logan. The two were a testament to true love.

  Dinner was lovely. Sophia was a gracious host. Logan grilled steaks outside and Sophia and Audrey made side dishes to complement the meal. Afterward, Logan took a rare long-distance phone call from his brother Justin, who was on his last tour of duty in Afghanistan and due to come home soon. The phone call gave her some private time to spend with Sophia.

  Sophia was easy to be around. She didn’t judge. She was a good listener and Audrey opened up to her about her life on the road with Casey. About her dreams of becoming a veterinarian and how Casey’s injury had slowed that down. Sophia encouraged her to pursue her dreams, as long as she was sure of what she truly wanted.

  Audrey left the cottage at nine o’clock after thanking the Slades for a wonderful evening. She parked her truck and headed toward the house. The ranch was quietly settled for the night, the sky starless and black, the air heavy with the day’s lingering heat. Not even an owl hooted. The horses were sleeping. Only Jewel greeted her at the door, rubbing against her leg and purring as Audrey walked inside. She wasn’t entirely alone; the cat was here. As much as she loved Jewel, somehow that wasn’t enough. Seeing Logan and Sophia tonight being so much in love and truly in tune with each other left her feeling a little lost.

  It was strange. She was happy for them, but pangs of sadness hit her as she walked into the home of the man she loved. Luke wasn’t here. She wanted to talk to him. She’d promised to give him a daily update of her work with Trib. She wanted to share with him the little progress she’d made. But more so, she wanted his company. She missed him and didn’t want to waste another second of her time here at Sunset Ranch. Sensations of loneliness rippled over her that far outweighed being physically alone in this big house. She felt it deep in her bones and an unwelcome shiver crept up her spine. Sleep wasn’t going to happen right now. And she was too darn edgy for mindless television. She needed a lift, a boost to get her out of this peculiar mood.

  An idea struck and her lips curled up.

  A skinny-dip was out of the question.

  But she did have one other option.

  * * *

  Luke texted Audrey on his way home from the airport. She didn’t answer. He glanced at his watch. It was after ten. By all rights she should be in bed by now. Everyone who worked the ranch woke at dawn, put in their hours and it was lights-out by nine usually. She must be asleep after having had dinner at the cottage. But he hadn’t heard from her today. He knew darn well she’d jump at the chance to work with Trib. It was a hard call for him to make, giving her that freedom, especially when he wasn’t going to be around. He’d worried over it at odd times today but gave Audrey credit for being smart with animals. She’d pretty much insisted on it. He hoped like hell nothing had gone wrong.

  His mind flashed to the jet-black stallion rearing up on hind legs and stomping down on his body.

  He scrubbed his jaw with his free hand and blew out a deep breath as he drove his truck past the ranch gates. He’d never forget the chest-crushing agony he’d endured when the two hooves beat down on him. Luckily, his body had curled up in a defensive position and rolled partway away. The brunt of Trib’s horsepower hadn’t hit him, or he probably wouldn’t be here today.

  He bounded from the truck and strode into the house. Nothing stirred. The house was empty but for one wisp of a girl sleeping in her room. Luke strode to the parlor and poured himself a shot of Jim Beam. He sipped his drink and headed to the kitchen to grab a late-night snack. Maybe Sophia had sent Audrey home with leftovers. He could only hope.

  A distant sound filtered through an opened inch of the kitchen window. Luke gathered his brows. It sounded like a splash. He strode to the sliding door and gazed out. Only a slice of the moon appeared, not enough to brighten the sky, but lamps by the water’s edge illuminated a female fig
ure in the pool. Luke opened the door without making a sound and stepped outside.

  His eyes adjusted to the dim light. The figure of a woman in a red thong bikini emerged clearly now. Her back was to him, her feet skimming the shallow steps of the pool. He zeroed in on her derriere and the sliver of cherry material pressed between twin cheeks of firm melon-shaped eye-popping perfection.

  A fast flash of recollection jolted through his system, a dropkick of reality. That murky mystifying night at the cabin was beginning to clear. He knew that body.

  He swallowed silently and shifted his gaze, hoping to find he’d been mistaken. Hoping to hell it was a wicked trick of the eyes. His gaze locked onto coltish and beautifully sculpted legs, glistening with droplets of water.

  He shook his head in denial. It couldn’t be.

  But dread knocked into his gut.

  He forced his gaze to travel upward, to the flowing blond waves cascading down the woman’s back in layers of unrestrained freedom. His body seized up in a viselike grip. Choked with the truth, he couldn’t breathe. Flashes of memory brightened, shining revealing light on the mystery.

  Those golden locks of hair had tickled his chin.

  Those smooth shapely legs had straddled his body.

  Those arousing perfect cheeks had caressed his thighs.

  His boots ate up the distance to the pool’s edge.

  She sensed his presence and whirled around to face him.