A quick look in the mirror made her frown, goaded by the memory of Cyn’s lush, soft beauty. Holly coaxed a few tendrils of hair loose around her face, hoping to soften the slanting lines of her eyes and cheekbones.
A few little curls weren’t enough to change the result. She still looked too young and too plain to attract a man like Linc.
Muttering unhappy words, Holly wrapped the big towel several times around herself and gathered up her clothes. Dirty laundry in hand, she headed out of the bathroom to look for a washing machine.
The master bedroom door opened and Linc walked in.
“Just in time,” she said.
“Looks more like too late to me.”
His hazel eyes took in the towel that covered Holly from collarbones to feet.
“I was going to offer to scrub your back, among other things,” he said.
She hesitated. As much as she wanted to lose herself to Linc’s passionate lovemaking, they weren’t alone anymore.
Not the way they had been at Hidden Springs, alone but for Sand Dancer and the desert storm.
“What about Beth?” Holly asked.
“I don’t think she wants to scrub you nearly as badly as I do,” he said, deliberately misunderstanding.
“Linc—”
“Don’t worry about Beth,” he interrupted softly. “She’d move heaven and earth to get you in my bed.”
Holly couldn’t hide her shock.
The smile that he gave her was real, if a bit thin.
“You can hardly be surprised that Beth knows about men, women, and beds,” he said. “She grew up fast. With a mother like hers, she had to.”
“It’s not that,” Holly said evenly. “I’m shocked that you would bring your . . . playmates . . . to your home.”
Linc’s eyebrows shot up.
“No matter how mature you think Beth is,” Holly said, “I doubt that she likes having breakfast with your most recent amour.”
“If I’m sleeping double, I sleep somewhere else,” he said bluntly.
“Oh.”
“You’ll be the first in my bed at home, niná. And the last.”
His fingers wound in her long black hair. Gently he pulled her toward him and tilted her face to receive his lips.
Just as his mouth touched hers he whispered, “Marry me today. We could be in Mexico in less than an hour.”
Before Holly could answer, Linc pulled her against him, kissing her so thoroughly she couldn’t breathe. She returned his kiss with a passionate abandon that made both of them tremble.
When he finally ended the kiss, he watched her with eyes that were clear and certain.
“I won’t hear anything except yes,” he said. “So if you want to argue, you’ll just have to wait until after the party. Truce, remember?”
Holly wanted to say yes more than she had ever wanted to do anything in her life. She had always known that she loved Linc. Now she was learning just how much.
But until he knew that Holly was also Shannon, she couldn’t accept promises he might not want to keep.
“I’ll wait until our truce ends to say yes,” she said. “Then we can go to Mexico or the moon or anywhere, so long as we’re together.”
Linc’s face became very still.
“Why wait if it’s yes?” he asked.
“When the truce ends, you may want to withdraw the offer.”
“You think we’ll have a horrible fight right away?” he asked, smiling crookedly.
“I know we will,” she said, unsmiling. “But if you want me afterward, you’ve got me.”
Linc slid his fingers between the towel and Holly’s breasts.
“Do I have to wait that long?” he asked, caressing gently.
She drew in a quick breath.
“Only for the marriage,” she said huskily. “The woman you could have had anytime since dawn.”
Beth’s voice came down the hallway.
“Linc?” she called. “Are you in the shower yet?”
Slowly he withdrew his hand, but otherwise made no move to separate himself from Holly.
“In here,” Linc called.
Beth breezed into the room, saw Linc with his arms around Holly, and grinned with open delight.
“Does this mean that after six years I’m finally going to have Holly as a sister?” Beth asked.
“I’m working on it,” he said. “She’s damn near as stubborn as I am.”
“Try one of your famous truces,” retorted Beth.
“I did. Midnight tomorrow, she says yes.”
Beth whooped and threw her arms around both Holly and Linc. They each put an arm around her and hugged her in return.
“Midnight, huh?” Beth asked, laughing. “Cool. Just like Cinderella!”
Linc laughed aloud, but Holly’s answering smile was a little forced.
Midnight hadn’t been Cinderella’s finest hour.
Eleven
“Holly?” Beth called. “Can I come in?”
Holly glanced toward the bedroom door. She had chosen to stay in the guest bedroom across the hall from the master bedroom, rather than in the master bedroom itself.
It was one thing to be engaged to Linc.
It was quite another to have Linc keep his little sister on a “tight leash” and then leave the leash off himself entirely.
“Come on in,” Holly said.
The door flew open. Beth came in with a rush.
“Linc told me to tell you he’ll be in the barn for a while,” Beth said. “One of his best horses needs him.”
“A while, hmm?” Holly said. She smiled slightly. “I remember Linc and his prize Arabians. Could be five minutes or five hours, right?”
“It’s the mare’s first foal,” Beth explained. “She can’t decide whether to lie down and have it or stand around and look surprised. It could be all night.”
Holly sighed and buttoned her freshly washed blouse.
“Then we’d better think about getting some food out to Linc,” Holly said. “Breakfast was a long time ago.”
Beth grinned. “I already took him three sandwiches and a quart of coffee.”
“He’s lucky to have a sister like you.”
“That’s what I keep telling him.”
Smiling, Holly tested her hair.
“Finally,” she muttered. “Dry enough to braid.”
Her fingers flew, deftly weaving long strands of hair into an intricate pattern.
“You make that look so easy,” Beth said after a minute.
“What?”
“Your braid. It looks so smart. But mine—ugh.”
Beth held up one of her own long braids as though it was a dead snake.
“You have pretty hair,” Holly said.
“Ha,” Beth said succinctly. “Pigtails or ponytails. Yuck.”
“There are other things you can do with long hair if you don’t want to cut it.”
“I want to cut it, but Linc won’t let me.”
Holly’s eyebrows rose in black arches.
“No makeup,” Beth said in a rush, “no cool clothes and the same hairdo I had six years ago.”
“Linc again?”
The younger girl’s full mouth twisted into a grimace.
“Linc,” Beth agreed. “I didn’t mind for a while, but now . . .”
Her voice faded. An expression of wistful yearning came over her face.
“A boy?” Holly asked, already knowing the answer.
Beth smiled shyly and nodded her head.
“Who is he?” Holly asked.
“Jack. My best friend’s older brother.”
“How much older?”
“You sound just like Linc!”
Holly smiled. “That’s because we both love you.”
“Jack just turned eighteen and I’ll be sixteen in a few months so there’s really only two years. He’s not too old for me!”
“Of course not.” Beth smiled with relief.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” sh
e said. “Linc doesn’t. And the way he makes me dress just makes me look like I’m in kindergarten.”
“If Jack is worth your time,” Holly said, “he won’t care about your clothes or hair.”
Beth’s mouth flattened into a stubborn line that reminded Holly of Linc.
“That’s what my brother says,” Beth muttered.
“He’s right.”
“Maybe. But why do I have to be the one to test Linc’s theories? Besides,” Beth added bitterly, “when he goes out with a woman, he sure doesn’t pick the plain ones.”
Remembering Cyn, Holly could hardly disagree.
“You aren’t plain,” Holly said.
The younger girl turned and looked at Holly with level eyes.
“I’m as plain as a post,” Beth countered.
The tone of her voice and her stance told Holly that Beth believed every word of what she was saying.
“You’re not plain at all,” Holly said firmly.
Beth gave her a sidelong glance and said nothing.
“Your smile alone is beautiful enough to turn heads,” Holly added.
“Oh, my teeth are straight,” the younger girl said grudgingly, “and my skin is clear. Other than that, I’m . . . plain.”
Holly measured Beth as though seeing her for the first time.
The younger girl’s eyes were the glowing, pale turquoise of a rain-washed desert sky. Her lips were full, ready to smile or pout or laugh. Her skin was smooth, lightly tanned, and glowing with health. At fifteen, she had a lovely, lithe, feminine figure.
With a discreet amount of makeup, the right clothes, and another hairstyle . . . Holly thought. Yes, she would be a knockout.
Is that what Linc is afraid of?
“Holly?” Beth waved her hand in front of Holly’s face. “Anybody home?”
“Come on,” Holly said, holding out her hand.
Beth took it instantly.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Palm Springs.”
“Huh? Why?”
“If we hurry, we’ll have an hour or two before the shops close.”
“Shops?”
“Clothes,” Holly said succinctly.
“Oh, yeah. You look about my age in that get-up, except for your hair.”
Holly glanced in the mirror. Rumpled blue shirt and ragged jeans. Clodhopper shoes, no makeup, and her hair pulled back from her face.
She’s right, Holly thought. I barely look old enough to drive.
Ruefully, she shook her head and patted her pockets to make sure her credit cards were in place.
“If Roger sees me like this,” Holly said under her breath, “he’ll disown me.”
“Who’s Roger?” Beth asked instantly.
“My boss.”
“Oh. What kind of work do you do?”
“I’m a model.”
Beth took a quick breath. Dismay showed clearly on her young features.
“Does Linc know?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Holly said, “but he doesn’t really believe it.”
“Holly—” Beth’s voice broke.
“I know.”
“Do you?” she asked in a strained voice. “Linc hates models. His mother and mine were both models.”
“Uh-huh. I know.”
Beth made a distressed sound.
Holly smiled at Linc’s sister with a cheerfulness that was pure bravado.
“Let’s go shopping,” Holly said. “Are you coming to the Arabian Nights party?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Knowing Linc, I’ll bet you need something special to wear for the party.”
Glumly Beth nodded. “But he won’t let me buy anything unless he’s along.”
“You wouldn’t turn down a gift from me, would you?”
“A gift?”
“Party clothes.”
The younger girl brightened.
“Oh,” Beth said. “Would you really?”
“Watch me. Does Linc still keep his car keys in the dish by the back door?”
“Uh-huh.”
Holly drove one of Linc’s cars, a bronze BMW coupe that was built for twisting mountain roads. The air was sultry. Vague hints of thunder muttered among the clouds and mountaintops.
As soon as Holly reached Palm Springs, she turned to Beth.
“Where to?” Holly asked.
“Oh, there are lots of places.”
“Sure, but where’s the best one?”
“For you?” Beth asked.
“For both of us.”
The younger girl grinned.
“Turn left at the next light,” she said eagerly.
Beth’s choice was Chez Elegance. The small, exclusive boutique featured clothes that were suitable for teenagers as well as women over twenty.
Discreetly Holly checked the styles and fabrics at random. She was relieved to see that even the most avant-garde designs depended on quality rather than shock alone for their impact.
Beth went from rack to rack with an innocent greed that made Holly smile.
“See something you like?” Holly asked.
“Everything,” she said, sighing. “This is the coolest store, but Linc never lets me buy anything here.”
“Too expensive?”
“Too ‘advanced,’ ” Beth said sarcastically.
“Trust me,” Holly said. “When I’m through, you won’t look like any more than you already are. Or any less.”
An hour later they emerged from the shop with a loose, off-white silk blouse and a floor-length silk skirt of the same pale turquoise as Beth’s eyes. There were thin, matching turquoise ribbons to braid into her hair. Delicate silver sandals with modest heels completed the outfit.
Beth was ecstatic. As soon as they were out on the sidewalk, she clutched the packages to her body and whirled around and around, crowing her delight.
“What a wonderful homecoming present, Holly! I can’t wait for the party! Jack’s coming with his parents! Wait until he sees me! He’ll—”
Beth’s exuberant words stopped abruptly when she bumped into someone.
“Watch those big feet of yours,” Cyn snapped.
Holly and Beth turned around as one.
“Sorry,” mumbled Beth.
“There’s nothing wrong with her feet,” Holly said coolly. “She handles them better than you do your tongue.”
Cyn’s narrowed eyes took in Holly’s blouse and jeans and shoes.
“A new ranch hand?” Cyn asked, turning to Beth.
The younger girl smiled with pure malice.
“Didn’t Linc tell you this morning when he called from the barn?” Beth asked innocently. “Holly is going to be Mrs. Lincoln McKenzie.”
Cyn’s face changed, older now. And much harder.
“Listening in on the extension again?” she asked.
For a moment Beth looked uncomfortable.
“I’m not surprised,” Cyn said. “Plain girls like you have to be sly. They have nothing else going for them.”
Beth tried to hide how much Cyn’s words hurt, but couldn’t. She simply wasn’t old enough to match insults with someone like Cyn.
“If you take out those dark-blue contact lenses you always wear,” Holly said distinctly, “you would see that Beth is beautiful.”
Cyn’s laughter was as light and delicate as her perfume.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Cyn said. “She’s almost as plain as you are. Haven’t you heard? Men like their women soft, petite, and round in all the right places.”
“Especially the heels?” Holly suggested.
Cyn turned on her like a cat.
“Just because you saved Linc’s life doesn’t mean he wants you,” Cyn said in a voice that cracked with anger. “He’ll get tired of your Plain Jane innocence fast enough. He’s all man. And face it, sweetie. You have all the sex appeal of a concrete slab.”
“Concrete slab?” murmured Holly.
Her eyes were narrowed and every bi
t as hard as Cyn’s.
“Come to the Arabian Nights ball,” Holly invited. “Watch men stand in line to talk to me. And then I’ll watch you wish you’d never been so blind and bitchy as to call Beth plain. Got that, sweetie?”
Cyn stared at Holly in disbelief.
“You couldn’t get your mirror to look at you, much less a man,” Cyn said.
Holly just smiled. The smile was as cold as her eyes.
“I’m coming to the ball,” Cyn said, “but the men will be looking at me, not you. See you there. But you won’t see me. I’ll be buried in men.”
The sound of Cyn’s laughter drifted on the air even after she was halfway down the block.
“I hate her,” Beth said in a strained voice. “I don’t know what Linc sees in her.”
Holly grimaced. She knew exactly what Linc saw in Cyn.
“He’s accustomed to her, uh, face,” Holly muttered.
Beth touched Holly’s arm in silent sympathy.
“I’m sorry,” Beth said in a small voice. “You didn’t have to crawl out on a limb to defend me. I know I’m plain.”
“You are not plain,” Holly said, emphasizing each word.
A wan smile was Beth’s only answer.
Guessing the source of her concern, Holly gave her a wink.
“Come on,” Holly said. “Let’s go to the hotel and pick up my stuff. You’re going to be almost as surprised as Cyn when I do my caterpillar-to-butterfly act.”
But nobody, Holly thought, is going to be as surprised as Linc when Shannon rather than Holly shows up at the ball.
It wasn’t a happy thought.
Thunder burst overhead just as a gust of hot, humid wind washed over the land. The wind smelled of sand and dust and rain.
As one Beth and Holly hurried to the car.
They just beat the storm home. When Holly pulled into the driveway of the Mountains of Sunrise, lightning was stitching through the clouds overhead.
“Linc?” called Holly, as she walked into the kitchen.
No one answered.
“Still in the foaling barn, I’ll bet,” Beth said.
Holly nodded and sighed. She had decided on the drive back from Palm Springs to talk with Linc. Somehow she had to prepare him for the transformation of Holly into Shannon.
If I can just find the words. And the courage, Holly admitted to herself.
Surely he’ll give me a chance to explain, to prove to him that not all models are heartless bitches.
Desert Rain with Bonus Material Page 10