9781631054723LucasDavis

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think we need to go upstairs.”

  Lucas’s eyebrows rose. “Didn’t you just wake up?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t say we’d be sleeping.”

  Lucas laughed. “Now you’re talking.” He stood and pulled her to her feet then led her to the chair behind the desk and sat in the chair, pulling her onto his lap. “But I don’t think we need to go upstairs.” He lowered his mouth to her neck and nibbled.

  Emily pulled away from him. “No?”

  Lucas lifted her shirt over her head and groaned when he saw her black demi-cup bra. Looking into her eyes, he unhooked the clasp and then watched her breasts spill free. He leaned down and took a nipple into his mouth. Emily’s fingers plowed through his hair, pulling him closer. He moved his mouth across her chest to the other one. Emily moaned and wrapped her arms around his head. She stood and removed her jeans and panties. Lucas groaned.

  “God, you are so gorgeous,” he said as he pulled her toward him and kissed her belly. She reached down, unsnapped his jeans, and slowly lowered the zipper. His hard shaft strained against his boxer briefs. He lifted up and shoved them down. Emily wrapped her hand around him. He closed his eyes.

  “I need you now, darlin’.”

  “Yes,” she whispered as she straddled him and slowly inched down over him. He clenched his jaw until she settled down over him. She gazed into his eyes then started to lift herself from him, then down over him again. Both of them moaned. His hands grasped her hips to set a rhythm. Her hands grasped his shoulders, her head going back. She ground against him and pressed her lips to his as her orgasm hit her, groaning into his mouth as she came. Lucas arched up into her then stood and laid her on the desk, with her legs around his waist, he pounded into her. His hands moved over her breasts as he watched her face flush. It threw him over the edge. He came hard but couldn’t stop moving against her until he was spent. Leaning over, he kissed her with all the passion he felt.

  “I’ll never get enough of you,” he said against her lips then took her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged on it.

  “And I’ll never get enough of you.” She pulled him to her and kissed him, running her tongue into his mouth making him groan. She pulled back to look at him.

  He was getting hard again. “This won’t take long at all,” he said, as he started moving against her fast and hard. She cried out his name just as he growled low in his chest.

  She laughed. “That should be a record.”

  Lucas chuckled. “World’s fastest fuck?”

  She blushed at his crude language but laughed. “Yes, I would think so.”

  Lucas straightened up and helped her up. “I’ll never be able to sit at this desk again without getting hard.”

  Emily swatted at him. “God! You can be so crude.”

  Lucas burst out laughing. “Just telling it like it is darlin’.”

  She put her clothes on and headed toward the door. As she walked away from him, she glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. They had a good marriage and she just hoped it stayed that way.

  * * * *

  Lucas sat at the desk and smiled. Married life wasn’t so bad. The sex was great. Emily was great. It was all great. So why did he feel it could be so much more? He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Something had to be done about Walters and soon. Lucas wanted to get on with their lives. He heard the shower running and smiled thinking of her in there and his groin tightened. How the hell could he be aroused again?

  Lucas sighed, stood, and headed out to the barn to get some work done. Stopping at his truck, he retrieved the salt bag and carried it into the barn. Tinker stood inside the door. Lucas set the bag down, took his knife out, and cut the bag open.

  “Can you get the feed buckets? We’ll mix this in with it.”

  “Sure,” Tinker said as he moved toward the stalls. He came back carrying four buckets.

  There were twenty-five horses on the ranch. Lucas scooped the salt and poured it into the oats. The horses needed the salt to keep minerals in their bodies. With summer coming, they would need more of it. After scooping salt into the buckets, Tinker took them away and came back with more. Once all the horses had salt, Lucas and Tinker headed into the back office and got a couple of beers out.

  “I’ll be glad when today’s over,” Tinker said.

  “Something wrong?”

  “My damn knees are killing me today. I’m supposed to have surgery but who has the time?”

  Lucas sat forward in his chair. “Go get it done, Tinker. I can run things around here.”

  “I’d be out for a while. I can’t afford it. I get paid well here but being off from work would catch up with me.” Tinker shook his head.

  Lucas nodded. “I understand, but you can’t keep going like this. You’ll get down and not get back up.”

  Tinker laughed. “I sure hope not but I ain’t gettin’ no younger.”

  “No you’re not. Get the surgery, Tinker. We’ll pay you while you’re off.”

  Tinker’s eyebrows shot up. “You can’t do that.”

  Lucas laughed. “Why the hell not? I’m part owner and I can guarantee Emily will go along with it.” He put his hand up when Tinker started to interrupt. “It’s settled. Go call your doctor and make the appointment. That’s an order.”

  Tinker’s cheeks turned red. “I appreciate it Lucas, but—“

  “No buts. Go home now and call your doctor.” Lucas leaned back, clasped his hands across his flat stomach, and stared at Tinker.

  Tinker sighed and stood. He put his hand out to Lucas. “I’m sorry I was a pain in the ass when you first got here. I was only thinking of Emily.”

  “I know. It’s fine, we’re good.”

  Tinker’s eyes were suspiciously bright. “As long as you treat her good, I’m fine with it and to tell you the truth, I’ve never seen her happier.” He pointed at Lucas. “And it’s because of you.” He left without another word.

  Lucas smiled. He hoped Tinker was right and he did make Emily happy. God knew she made him happy. He needed to get some work done and then he would let Emily know about Tinker’s operation. He sighed as he picked up the papers for the sale of five of the horses.

  * * * *

  Emily was in the kitchen when the phone rang. “Whispering Pines,” she answered.

  “Your new husband’s an idiot.”

  Emily gasped. “Because he didn’t take the money?”

  Adam laughed and it grated on her nerves. “So he told you? I’m surprised.”

  “Lucas is honest with me. It’s what a marriage is about. You wouldn’t know about that.”

  “You bitch. You’re going to regret divorcing me,” he growled.

  “The only thing I regret is marrying you to begin with. Don’t threaten me. You don’t scare me anymore.” She tried desperately to keep the tremor out of her voice.

  “Oh it’s not a threat, you can bet your ass on that.” Adam hung up.

  She stood there with the receiver in her hand when Lucas came in. He rushed to her.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Adam…” she cleared her throat. “It was Adam. He said I’d regret divorcing him.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Lucas roared as he headed toward the door.

  Emily ran after him. “Where are you going?”

  “To look for the bastard.”

  “No! Lucas, please. You can’t do this.” Tears rolled down her face. “Please. Don’t go after him. I can’t lose you.”

  Lucas blew out a breath and pulled her into his arms. “All right. I won’t, but if he comes around here, I will not be responsible for my actions.”

  Emily clung to him and nodded. “Thank you.”

  Lucas squeezed her tighter. She couldn’t stop the tears from coming on harder. It had to end soon. Someway, it had to end or she was going to lose her sanity.

  * * * *

  Lucas sat in the office alone and stared at the wall. Walters was out t
here making plans. No one had mentioned seeing him since he’d entered the bank and strutted around like he owned it. Lucas knew he was just biding his time. The thoughts were not good, of what Walters could do. He was ruthless in his pursuit of Emily and Lucas knew she was terrified.

  Lucas sighed and stood. He moved toward the window and gazed out. The weather was getting nicer and the snow was melting fast. Maybe it was his plan. No footprints would show if the snow was gone. Lucas grunted. The man was smart. Emily had told Lucas he was. The son of a bitch was patient too.

  “Hey,” Emily said softly from the doorway.

  Lucas turned to smile at her. She hadn’t slept much in the past few days and it showed. He strode to her. “You look so tired. Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”

  She shook he head. “I can’t sleep.”

  “I’m here with you, Emily. He won’t get to you as long as I’m with you.” He ran his hand over her hair. “You need to get some sleep, darlin’.”

  “Will you lie down with me?” She gazed up at him with those big green eyes.

  “I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep. I have work I need to get done.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “We have ranch hands for that, Lucas.”

  He sighed. “All right. Let’s go take a nap.” He led her from the room and upstairs. They lay on the bed and Lucas held her to him as she put her head on his chest. Only minutes passed before he knew she was asleep. He rested his cheek on the top of her head and closed his eyes. He’d die before he’d let Walters take her from him.

  * * * *

  Emily woke up alone and quickly glanced around the room. The sun was still shining through the window. She stretched and headed downstairs to find Lucas in the kitchen, sitting at the table. His laptop sat in front of him. He glanced up when she entered.

  “Hi. Do you feel rested?”

  Emily nodded. “Yes. When did you leave the room?”

  “Just a few minutes ago. I woke up and decided to get back with some of the emails we received about some horses. We have ten people interested in buying.”

  “That’s good. We’ll get some of the mares pregnant this spring and sell even more next year.”

  Lucas nodded and went back to the emails while she got herself a cup of tea. She took a seat beside him sipping her tea as he answered emails. They both jumped when Tinker burst through the back door without knocking.

  “We have a horse down!” He ran back outside with Emily and Lucas running behind him. They entered the barn and moved to the stall where Star Gazer lay panting.

  “Colic?” Lucas asked Tinker.

  “I don’t know. I called the vet. He’ll be here any minute. I’ve tried getting Star up but he won’t budge. If it is colic, we have to get him up before he rolls and twists his intestines.”

  Lucas ran from the stall then returned in a few minutes with a long, wide strap. All three of them worked together to get the strap under the horse and try to raise him up. Lucas called the ranch hands on his cell. A few minutes later, they came running into the barn to help. It was of no use, the horse would not stand. The vet, Doctor Tyler Woods, arrived and checked the horse for impaction or stomach rumbling. He shook his head when he took the stethoscope out of his ears.

  “It’s not colic. He’s not impacted and his stomach doesn’t seem to be bothering him. I’m going to draw some blood and test it.”

  Everyone stood back to let the doctor do what was needed. All of a sudden, the horse laid his head down. The vet kneeled down to check him. He glanced at Lucas. “He’s still breathing but it’s very shallow. I need to get some fluids into him. Now.”

  “No,” Emily shouted as she kneeled down.

  “I’m sorry Emily but he may not make it.”

  Emily sat back on her heels and stared at him. “He has to. Do something.”

  Doctor Woods gazed up at Lucas. “I’m doing all I can for him. I’m hoping the fluids will help him. He’s a healthy horse. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  Emily stood and clenched her hands into fists as tears rolled down her face. “Oh, I know what caused it or I should say who caused it.” She shook her head. “Adam did this.”

  Lucas put his arm around her. “How? We’ve been watching for him. All of us have kept an eye out for him. There’s no way he walked onto this ranch and did this.”

  Emily pushed him away. “He did! Apparently none of you are watching hard enough.” She strode from the barn.

  * * * *

  Lucas sighed and turned to go after her when Tinker laid a hand on his arm. “Let her go, Lucas. She’s upset and needs to be alone. She didn’t mean what she said.”

  Lucas nodded. “He couldn’t have done this, could he, Tinker? We’re keeping an eye out.” He glanced around at the other men and they all nodded.

  “We’re not even sure it was him, Lucas. Emily’s freaked out right now. It could’ve been anything. A snake maybe.” Tinker shrugged. “It could any number of things and until Doctor Woods finds out, we’re just guessing.”

  “These fluids should help flush out any toxins,” Doctor Woods told them.

  Lucas shook his hand. “I appreciate it, Tyler. I’m going inside with Emily. What do you want us to do with Star Gazer?”

  “I’m staying until I’m sure he’s going to be all right.” Doctor Woods sighed. “I’ll do everything in my power to save him. She loves this horse. Her grandfather bought him almost twenty years ago and she grew up with him.” He stared at Lucas. Lucas nodded as he left the barn and headed toward the house. Taking a deep breath, he entered the kitchen and took his hat and coat off. He ran his fingers through his hair and went in search of his wife. He found her in the living room, curled up in the window seat. Her cheeks were tearstained. He sat beside her but when he reached for her, she pulled away from him.

  “You can’t blame us for this.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “He walked on to this ranch, God knows when, and did something to my horse. No one saw him, but yet I can’t blame any of you?”

  “That’s not fair Emily. We don’t even know what’s made him sick—”

  She jumped up. “We do know! It was Adam, and if you don’t believe it then you’re a fool.” She started to walk away when Lucas grasped her arm.

  “I’ll wait for the results from the vet before I jump to conclusions, and you should too. There’s no way he walked on this ranch without being seen. You need to realize that.”

  “Maybe you took the money,” she shouted.

  “What? What did you just say to me?” Lucas clenched his teeth so hard they ached. “You can’t be serious.”

  She shrugged. “It’s funny how no one saw him.”

  “It might not have been him,” Lucas roared.

  “You’d love for me to believe that, wouldn’t you?” She jerked her arm from him. “Get out and leave me alone.”

  “You want me to leave? You married me so I could protect you and now you’re throwing me out? Who’s going to protect you? An old man and one ranch hand here each night. Get real.”

  “I’ll take care of myself.” She moved further away from him.

  “I’m not going anywhere. I own half of this ranch and whether you like it or not, I’m staying.”

  They glared at each other until Emily turned away from him. “I don’t care what you do. I’m going upstairs to move my things back to my room.”

  Lucas watched her climb the stairs then he took a deep breath and followed her up. When she entered their bedroom, he closed the door and leaned back against the door. She glanced over to him.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  “Not letting my wife out of our bedroom.”

  “Lucas Taggart, you will not keep me in this room against my will.”

  Lucas grinned. “I don’t think it will be against your will.” He shoved himself away from the door and moved slowly toward her. She backed up until she hi
t the wall behind her. She shook her head. Lucas cupped her face in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. “You seriously think I had something to do with it?” He pressed his lips to hers. When she moaned, he pulled her tightly against him and deepened the kiss. Raising his head slowly, he gazed into her eyes. “I swear I didn’t.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. “I know you didn’t. I’m sorry.” More tears followed.

  Lucas lifted her in his arms and laid her on the bed. He held her while she cried. When she finally fell asleep, he went back to the barn to talk with Tinker.

  “How long have the men worked here?” He asked Tinker.

  Tinker seemed surprised by the question. “A good while.”

  Lucas sighed. “Okay, then do you know if any of them are having financial problems or if any of them would take money?”

  “You mean to harm Star Gazer?” At Lucas’s nod, Tinker went on. “I would hope none of them.”

  “Damn it, Tinker, I hope the same, but if that horse was poisoned, someone on this ranch may have played a part in it.”

  Tinker ran his hand down his face. “I don’t know who would do it. They love the horses here too. I can’t see any of them doing this, even for money.”

  “Walters couldn’t have gotten on this ranch. You’ve been rotating the men so we have one here every night, right?”

  “Yep. I’ll talk to them.” Tinker strolled away.

  Lucas headed back to the house. When he entered the kitchen, Emily was sitting at the table. She wouldn’t look up at him. He moved to squat down in front of her.

  “Hey,” he said softly. She raised her eyes to his. He could see she was still crying and lifted a hand to brush her tears away. “I’m so sorry about Star Gazer, baby.”

  Emily nodded. “I’m sorry I accused you. I was hurt. I know you would never hurt any animal, especially a horse. You love them as much as I do.”

  “It’s all right, I knew you were upset. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Tinker’s going to talk with the men. I hate to think it could be one of them but we have to look at everyone.”