by Becky Barker
There had always been an element of primitive excitement when Luke was near, but it had been carefully reined. She'd never realized how explosive the passion could be. Grasping his head, she dragged his mouth back to hers for longer, deeper, hotter kisses.
Their bodies strained closer, stroking each other from thigh to chest until they were oblivious of everything else. Heat built to incinerating levels until Mariando, offended by lack of attention, butted them strongly with her head. Their precarious balance was threatened.
He reacted swiftly, steadying her while watching her with eyes that devoured her features until she felt raw and exposed. His voice was hoarse when he spoke. "We'd better put an end to this right now," he insisted, eyes burning like hot steel. He sucked in a deep breath before continuing.
"I could take you standing up right here," he insisted tersely. "And the hell with privacy." His gruff words made Susan's stomach muscles clench and her breasts swell with heaviness. She knew he was an extremely private person. So was she, but she'd been equally affected by their embrace.
It shocked her to realize how passionate she felt in his arms. Her body's reactions were more fierce than anything she'd ever known. It was a little frightening, and her first instinct was to completely withdraw from his embrace.
"You shouldn't be so shocked," he told her, continuing to support most of her weight. "I've always known the passion between us would be explosive."
Susan hadn't known, nor had any idea. She wasn't sure she liked the wild feelings he aroused, but it was a relief to learn Shane hadn't destroyed her ability to respond to a man. Still, she was shaken. She made a determined effort to steady herself on her own two legs and regulate her erratic breathing. He helped right her clothing with so much ease she felt no embarrassment.
Then Luke allowed her to put a small distance between them, but his eyes boldly announced she couldn't escape what was between them.
"You can run, but you can't hide," he warned. "You might not want involvement, but I think we just proved you're not indifferent to me."
Susan was having a difficult time calming her riotous emotions. She was amazed at how much pleasure she'd found in his arms and the inordinate amount of pleasure he seemed to derive from her responses. Was she really a wanton widow? No. With a mental shake of her head she conceded the idiocy of that thought. She'd certainly never known the kind of passion he’d just stirred in her. Still, she wondered if he thought her wanton, believed she was a widow in need of a man. The thought heated her already over-warm flesh.
"You think the physical attraction is enough to sustain a marriage?"
"Not even close," he returned bluntly. "But it's a damned good start. Granddad says the chemistry jump-starts a marriage, then the man and wife have to work their butts off to make a lasting commitment. I'd say we have all the sparks for a good jump-start."
The heat in her face never had a chance to recede. He kept her so completely off balance. But the mention of the Hanchart patriarch had her frowning. John and his wife, Alma, had raised Luke after their son died at an early age. John had long since given the reins of the ranch over to Luke, but he was still active and verbal about what he liked and didn't like.
"Did John have anything to do with your marriage proposal?" she asked, holding his gaze with difficulty. "Not hardly," Luke drawled. "He's been nagging me for ten years to get married and give him great-grand babies, but no more now than usual."
"He and everyone else in this area would have a field day with a marriage between us," she warned. Was the flicker of tension in his eyes annoyance or satisfaction that she was obviously taking his proposal seriously?
"I don't give a damn what anybody else thinks," he stated succinctly. Susan didn't think he cared much about his local popularity. She searched his features to see if there were any telltale signs of concern.
"People can be cruel." Neither of them elaborated, but they both knew people would criticize her for marrying so soon after Shane's death. They'd call Luke a lecher and accuse him of preying on her vulnerability. Some would call her a slut and a gold digger. There would be no secret about marrying to keep the family's land holdings intact. Nothing was ever really private in so small a community.
The Hanchart money and power would prevent them from becoming social outcasts, but things could get very unpleasant. The rest of the Hanchart family might be the worst offenders.
Susan would prefer to isolate herself on the ranch and ignore popular opinions, but she knew that was nearly impossible.
"I can handle it," Luke assured her. "Can you?" She gave him a sad smile. "Talk is cheap. There was a time when it would have bothered me a lot." That was when her parents were living and her family had been a pillar of the community, before her life had been shattered into a million pieces. "Very little bothers me now."
His eyes were glittering slits of silver as they scoured her face for signs of emotions in conflict with her words. "Does that mean you're accepting my proposal?"
A frown creased her brow. "It means I'll give it some thought." His reaction was swift and harsh. "I thought you couldn't afford to wait any longer. It's stupid to move everything to Houston if we're going to be married. You can move in right now:"
Susan was a little taken aback by his attitude. She knew there was a strong physical attraction between them, but there had to be more to his impatience. Even though she understood how important the land was to him, she couldn't help resenting his impatience to have his way.
"That would really stir up the gossip," she insisted.
"You could go back to Shane's place."
"No!" she was equally adamant about that. "Then stay here. Juan and Rosa can move into the house as chaperons or Granddad can move back for a while if you think it's necessary."
Juan and Rosa Lopez were part of the ranch staff, he a foreman and she a housekeeper. They had their own smaller house, as did John, but everyone occasionally stayed at the main house. "I'm not worried about chaperons." She might be a little wary of being alone with him, but not enough to suffer several unfamiliar companions.
"Good, because I'm not too fond of having a house full of people, either."
Susan absently stroked Mariando's neck while she gave more thought to Luke's suggestion, trying to study it from every conceivable angle. It would solve a lot of her immediate problems. She wouldn't have to move to the city, leave her beloved horses, or worry about her dismal finances.
On the other hand, her experience with marriage had been terrible. The brutal death of her youthful dreams had convinced her there were no Prince Charmings. She never wanted to be trapped in a bad marriage again, but how was one to know? There were no assurances. Would it be wiser to marry for strictly practical reasons? Was it so wrong to yearn for security and the promise of a family?
She liked what she knew about Luke. Without Shane's interference, their relationship might have developed into a deeper commitment. They shared a solid foundation of growing up in the same community with a long line of Texas blood in their veins. They seemed to want the same things from life: home, family and commitment. At least she thought they did.
"I've learned there aren't any guarantees in life. What if we can't make it work?" she asked. "We make it work," he insisted tersely. "If we get married, it's for life. That's the only string attached. If you marry me, I'll never agree to a divorce. Never. So understand that from the start."
"Never's a long time if we learn to hate each other," she felt compelled to mention.
"I swear on my life I'll never abuse you or cheat on you. I'll expect the same vow of fidelity, regardless of how tough things get. Other than that, there are no strings."
"Not even a prenuptial agreement?" Luke's frown deepened. Was she testing him? "Do you think either one of our mothers signed one?"
That brought a small smile to her lips. Her parents had been deeply in love. Regardless of everything that had come since their deaths, Susan would always be grateful for the emotional security
their love had instilled in her. "Are you hesitating because you're still in mourning for Shane?"
Her brow furrowed. Shane might be dead, but the knowledge he'd used to blackmail her would always be a threat to her peace of mind. If she married Luke, it could possibly destroy any hope for their happiness. “So what's your answer?" he demanded impatiently. "Can you walk away or will you stay and marry me?"
His expression and tone were so fierce it made Susan wonder if he resented the attraction they shared.
"I have to ask just one more question," she insisted, her gaze locking with his. "I understand that the land is important to you, but does your sudden proposal have anything at all to do with Shane?" She didn't want a marriage based on misplaced loyalty, a sense of responsibility or even male rivalry.
Luke hesitated just an instant longer than she could tolerate. She stiffened and moved abruptly away from him. "Then it's thanks, but no thanks." Turning, she headed for the door. "I have to be on my way."
"Dammit, Susan, wait," he commanded sharply. She ignored him and hurried toward the door, but the instant she stepped out of the barn and into the blistering sunshine, her head started to whirl. The midmorning temperature was already in the nineties and hit her like a ball of fire. First she was stunned, and then everything went dark. It was like falling in slow motion and being helpless to stop.
Luke was close enough to catch her and break her fall. He scooped her into his arms, realizing she’d passed out. He held her close to his chest while striding toward the house and yelling for the housekeeper.
"Rosa!" His voice had a resounding roar that easily carried across the barnyard to the house. The short, round Hispanic woman met him at the back door, her dark eyes concerned. She held the door while he carried Susan into the house.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. She just rushed out of the barn and collapsed. It might be the heat."
"She's used to the heat,” Rosa argued. "She's probably collapsed from exhaustion. Put her on the couch in the living room. I'll get some water and a damp cloth for her forehead."
"Call Doc Peters and see if he can get out here or if I should bring her to the clinic."
Rosa went to do his bidding while Luke eased Susan onto the sofa. He shoved aside cushions so she could lie flat, laid her arms next to her body and then tugged her boots off her feet to make her more comfortable. When he reached to brush a wayward strand of hair from her face, her eyelids fluttered, and she began to stir.
"Susan?"
A frown creased her forehead, and she slowly opened her eyes, staring at his face in confusion. She lifted a hand to brush her fingers over her eyes, and then gradually became more aware of her surroundings. It was unsettling to find herself in the house and not remember getting there. Being prone on the sofa with Luke leaning over her did nothing to reassure her.
"What happened?" she managed to ask, her voice a bare whisper. She tried to lift herself on one elbow, but found the effort too much for her.
His jaw clenched. "I don't know what happened. You just fainted."
"I've never fainted in my life." She'd had a lot of shocks in her twenty-four years, but she'd never fainted from them. She certainly wasn't fragile and didn't like the thought of being helpless or at anyone's mercy.
"There's a first time for everything," he countered. "And you were definitely out cold." Susan's frown deepened. She might have passed out, but every cell in her body was still functioning properly. She knew because they were reacting to his nearness again.
Then Rosa entered the room chattering a mile a minute. Luke straightened and stepped aside while the housekeeper clucked over their patient. "Here, honey, take a long drink of water and then we'll cool you down a little until the doctor gets here."
She eased a hand under Susan's shoulder and lifted her a little so she could drink. "You probably just got a little dehydrated. I got the doctor on his mobile phone. He's close by, so he agreed to come right over. You just need to rest until he gets here."
"I don't need a doctor," Susan said after drinking thirstily. She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but her strength was returning, and she didn't have money for house calls. "I'm feeling much better already."
"Then you'll be able to tell Doc Peters exactly what's wrong," said Luke. He settled himself into a nearby chair and kept his steady gaze leveled on her. Susan's gaze flew to his. "I was just temporarily overcome by the heat," she insisted.
"Maybe," he drawled, "but we'll let the doc decide." Rosa gently nudged her to lie flat and placed a cool, damp washcloth on her forehead. "I'll get you some more water. That must have tasted pretty good." As soon as she was out of the room, Susan held the cloth to her head and pulled herself into a sitting position. It alarmed her that the action made her dizzy again.
"Not quite ready for the races?" Luke asked in a derisive tone. She frowned and shot him a look of annoyance. She hated feeling so weak and wimpy. "It was probably delayed shock from your proposal," she accused, needing an outlet for her frustration. She also hated being such a jumble of nerves and conflicting emotions,
"Anything that affects you so strongly should be taken more seriously, shouldn't it?"
"I was taking it very seriously," she explained, "until you all but admitted that the offer was some sort of misguided attempt to make up for all the wrongs Shane ever did."
Luke's features hardened and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “If you hadn't run out of the barn in such a huff, I'd have explained. I’m not about to let Shane dictate my life any more than he already has. I only hesitated because I couldn't find any diplomatic way to say I never want to hear his name mentioned between us again."
Susan certainly shared that sentiment. Some of the tension drained from her at his heated declaration. She didn't doubt his sincerity. She'd be happy to forget Shane ever existed, too, and might consider Luke's proposal if it had nothing to do with her dead husband.
"Is that the absolute truth?" she asked, her expression tight. He didn't seem too pleased with the question, but he responded without hesitation. "I don't lie."
It was a simple declaration, but incredibly important to her. She'd been raised to believe that honesty was the best policy, that lies and deceit were unacceptable. But Shane had thrived on deceiving people. It had shaken her faith in herself and humanity. Could Luke restore that faith? More importantly, could she marry him without being completely honest about her sham of a marriage? Could they really dismiss Shane from their lives and make a better future for themselves?
"If we were to marry, do you really think we could put the past behind us? Bury it forever and start fresh?"
"There'll be plenty of people willing to remind us on a regular basis," he assured grimly, "but we can do anything we set our minds to."
"You can honestly forget I was married to your cousin?" His face tightened into even more uncompromising lines, but she didn't know if it was due to the mention of her marriage or his inability to forgive and forget. The roar of a truck in the drive distracted him, so he rose to go to the window.
"Doc Peters is here. He must have been really close or he broke a few speed limits. I think he has a soft spot for you, anyway."
Susan had a soft spot for the doctor, too. He was well loved in this area. The accident had killed her dad had left her mother in a coma for weeks before death. She'd never regained consciousness. Doc Peters had lent a faithful shoulder during her hospitalization. He hadn't charged a penny for his frequent visits.
"I can't afford to pay him, and I don't like accepting charity,’ she said. Luke turned a cool gaze back to her. “You were here caring for my horses. I'll see that he's paid."
Her expression made it clear she didn't like accepting anything from him, either, which made his expression even more fierce. "It's not charity, you hardheaded little idiot."
Susan didn't respond even though her glare told him what she thought of his generosity and his insults. No one could accuse Luke Hanchart of b
eing a smooth talker. Though his arrogance annoyed her, it was a welcome relief from Shane's glib ways. Rosa and Doctor Peters entered the room together and put an end to the discussion. The housekeeper gave her more water while the doctor pulled out a blood-pressure cuff.
He was a tall, thin, balding man with a deeply lined face that showed years of work and worry. Susan didn't know how old he was. She assumed he was in his seventies, but she knew he wouldn't retire until he died. Despite his advancing years, his eyes were bright with intelligence and his mind was still sharp.
"Well, young lady, what have you been doing with yourself?" he asked. As the county's only general practitioner, he'd helped bring most of the local population into the world. She was no exception. "I don't know. I was just leaving the barn, and the heat seemed to hit me with more force than usual."
Peters nodded and stuck a thermometer in her mouth while he checked her pressure. He took her pulse and then started to scold. "I suppose you've been keeping some pretty long hours, not sleeping or eating properly, and fretting about this big move. Right?" She had no chance to respond before he continued.
"I told you to slow down and take care of yourself, but nobody ever listens to the old doctor. Everybody thinks they're super-human these days. You just push your bodies to the very limit and then call me when you collapse. Didn't I warn you to slow down and take better care of yourself?"
"Yes," she mumbled around the thermometer. Didn’t I warn you that you had to start eating more?”
“Yes.” "And did you take my advice?" "No," she mumbled again. "You need a few days of complete rest. A couple weeks wouldn't hurt. I can give you a thorough physical, but there's nothing wrong that some common sense couldn't cure. You've just pushed too hard this time."
"I've never fainted before.”
"It’s your body's way of warning you to slow down. It'd be wise to heed the warning."
It was easy for him to tell her what she needed, but not so easy for her to accomplish. She didn't have the luxury of taking a few weeks to regain her usual strength. Good, nutritious food cost more money than she could spare, so she’d been getting by with one meal a day at the restaurant. She hadn’t had much of an appetite lately, anyway, and she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had a good night’s sleep.