Taste of Passion (Madaris Novels)

by Brenda Jackson

  “What?”

  “A jealous woman.” He drew in a deep breath. “We may have been looking at this all wrong.”

  With the confused look that appeared on Christy’s face, he went on to explain. “During this whole time we’ve assumed that the person behind those mischievous attacks on Mac was trying to get her attention. What if the target wasn’t really Mac but Luke, because of all the interest he’s been showing Mac lately?”

  Christy’s eyes widened as she eased out of Alex’s lap and turned to him. “Luke?”

  “Yes. Think about it for a second. You recall what Luke told us about that woman last year, the one who was beginning to get so possessive of him? I was even there with Clayton one day when Luke inquired what could be done if she continued to get out of hand.”

  Christy nodded. “I remember, but that was last year.”

  “Yes, but it’s worth checking out anyway. Her father owns a huge ranch on the outskirts of Oklahoma City so she was close by. The ranch has a large number of employees and it wouldn’t be hard for her to get one or two of them to do her dirty work.” He picked up the phone.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Ashton. He’s attending the rodeo tonight. I’m going to tell him what I think and suggest that he present that possibility to Luke after the rodeo to see what he thinks.”

  Mackenzie strolled into the corridor that led from the ladies’ room as she headed back toward the stairs to her seat. Luke had won all of the events he had competed in so far and would be facing last year’s winner in the finals to achieve his goal of regaining his title.

  “Excuse me, Ms. Standfield.”

  Mackenzie turned toward the man who had stepped out of the shadows. Another cowboy dressed in a bull-rider’s garb. Mackenzie glanced up at him. “Yes?”

  “Luke wants to see you. He’s over near the north chute and asked that I bring you to him.”

  Mackenzie frowned. When she and Luke had talked earlier today, she had adamantly told him she would not be coming to the chute area. He needed his full concentration on regaining that title. He had taken her by surprise when he had sprinted across the arena to steal a kiss from her, but with the season title on the line the last thing he needed to think about was a little hanky-panky.

  She placed her hand on her hips, throwing her hair over her shoulder and chuckled lightly, saying, “Sorry. Please go back and tell Luke that he knows our agreement and I’ll join him after the rodeo and not one minute sooner.”

  Surprise flitted across the man’s face, and then Mackenzie’s blood suddenly chilled at the cold look that appeared in his eyes. She quickly moved to step around him but he caught hold of her wrist in a tight grip. “I hate to tell you but you’re coming with me anyway, and I wouldn’t make a sound of protest if I were you,” he said in a low voice. “I won’t hesitate to use this if I have to.”

  Mackenzie glanced down and saw the small gun he held in his hand. She then looked back up into his face and held his gaze. Stark fear ran up her spine. “I don’t understand. Who are you and what do you want?”

  “Your questions will be answered soon enough. Let’s go.”

  She felt her heart thud deep in her chest. “To where?”

  “You’ll know when we get there. And remember, don’t give anything away. I’ll use this thing if I have to.”

  Ashton’s phone was answered on the first ring. “Alex?”

  “Yes, it’s me,” was Alex’s response. He could hear a lot of noise in the background. “Enjoying the rodeo?”

  “Yes. Luke made the finals,” Ashton said, trying to talk over the noise. “The last event of the night is when he tries out for the championship. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll take home this season’s title. What’s up?”

  As quickly as he could over all the noise in the background, Alex told Ashton his latest theory.

  There was a pause and then Ashton said, “Umm, that is a possibility, although I can’t see a woman doing all those things alone. She would have had help.”

  “I’m thinking the same thing. Talk to Luke after the rodeo and see what he thinks. Until then, keep an eye on Mac.”

  Ashton glanced down to where Mac had been sitting. Her seat was empty. “Hold on, Alex.” He leaned over and called down to Tori, “Where’s Mac?”

  “She went to the ladies’ room.” Frowning, Tori said, “Come to think of it, she’s been gone a while. I’ll go check on her,” she said, getting out of her seat.

  “Mac went to the ladies’ room,” Ashton said to Alex. “Tori is going to check on her.”

  Tori was turning the corner toward the ladies’ room when she saw Mackenzie with some man who was leading her away. And it seemed as if he had a firm grip on her arm.

  The former CIA agent in Tori immediately sensed danger. She knew she had to get word to her husband about what was going on and quickly pulled out her cell phone and punched in their secret emergency code, hoping Drake got her text message. She needed to follow and keep Mac and that man in plain sight and take action when the opportunity presented itself.

  Ashton stopped talking in mid-sentence to Alex when Sir Drake got his attention. Drake had stood up and there was a fierce expression on his face. “What’s wrong?” Ashton asked, immediately on alert.

  “Tori just sent an emergency message. She needs help.”

  “Alex, something is wrong,” Ashton then said quickly as he stood also. “I’ll call you when I find out what it is.” He hurriedly hung up the phone.

  Ashton reached out and touched the shoulder of Trevor Grant, another friend of theirs. “Let’s go.” No explanation was given. Those words were all that were needed for Trevor to get on his feet.

  “Is something wrong?” Blade leaned over to ask when he saw the three men heading for the exit. Ashton was glad that the other Madarises were focused on the rodeo events in the arena while waiting for Luke to take part in the final competition.

  “Not sure. But we’ll know in a little while. In the meantime if anyone asks, just tell them we went to talk to Luke about something.”

  Luke stood talking to a few of the other bull riders behind the bucking chutes. Tonight had gone just the way he had wanted. So far he had done exceptionally well, and in the final competition, regaining the title he’d lost last year was within his reach.

  He had to smile when he remembered how he had sprinted across the arena floor and vaulted over a fence to get into the stands to give a surprised Mac an unexpected but satisfying kiss. He still tasted her on his lips and could hardly wait until the rodeo was over and they’d be alone. Hell, he was even contemplating skipping the victory party that was held the last night of each PRCA championship.

  “Luke,” a familiar voice said behind him, and he automatically stiffened before turning around.

  He frowned and excused himself from the other men to walk over to Nadine. He had talked to her father earlier and had given the old man fair warning. If his daughter continued to harass him, he wouldn’t hesitate to take legal action. It was time for him to make that clear to Nadine as well.

  “Nadine, I don’t know why you’re here but I talked to your father and—”

  She laughed. “You think I care what you’ve told my father? If you do then think again, Luke. But I see that thinking is something you don’t do well, otherwise, you would have paid attention to my warnings and left her alone.”

  A cold chill suddenly spread up Luke’s spine. “What are you talking about?”

  “You and that woman, the one you want to convince me that you’re going to marry. The same one you insulted me by kissing that night in Oklahoma months ago. That’s why I got back at you and used Scar Face to do it.”

  Luke was taken aback by her admission, and anger all but exploded within him. “You’re the one who opened the gate to let the bull out that night?”

  A smug smile touched her lips. “That’s right. And then when you moved in with her at her ranch, that really pissed me off, so I hired someone
to knock down her mailbox and mess up her office. And when you still didn’t heed my warnings about her, I went further.”

  “By poisoning her cattle,” Luke finished for her.

  He breathed in, wondering what Nadine was accomplishing by admitting all she’d done. Did she honestly think that even if he wasn’t in love with Mac, he would consider a relationship with her after all she’d just told him?

  As if reading his mind, she said, “We will be together because I’m getting her out the picture once and for all.”

  Luke’s heart nearly stopped beating. “What did you say?”

  Her lips curled into a sneer. “You heard me. I ordered my men to snatch Ms. Standfield and they’ve already phoned me to say they have. Her fate lies in your hands, Luke. She won’t get hurt if you give me what I want.”

  He was seeing red. “And just what is that supposed to be?”

  She smiled so sweetly it almost made him sick to his stomach. “Marriage. I want us to fly to Vegas and marry tonight. Forget about winning the title back. You’re going to have to prove to me that I’m more important to you than that.”

  Tori, who’d been following at a discreet distance, figured she had to do something when the man, still holding firmly on to Mac, was about to exit the arena for the parking lot. She had to plan things carefully since there was no doubt in her mind that he had some sort of weapon, possibly a gun. But she needed to get close and she needed to do it now.

  Coming up with an idea, she emerged from the shadows and called out. “Hey, Mackenzie, you’re not leaving before Luke’s final event, are you?”

  The man whipped around with a surprised look on his face. He frowned, tightening his jaw, and it was then that Tori saw the small pistol. Now it was pointed at her. “Bad timing for you so I think you better join us,” he said, smiling coldly at her. “Now get over here.”

  Tori refrained from smiling back. Although he didn’t know it, he had just given her the opportunity she wanted. In the end, she would all but make him eat that gun.

  “Why? What’s going on?” she asked in a frightened tone of voice, as if she didn’t have a clue.

  “You’re going with us and then the boss will decide what she wants to do with you. We’ve already been given orders about what to do with Ms. Standfield,” he coldly informed her.

  Tori came to a stop in front of him and quickly assessed the situation. He had Mackenzie close to his side but not too close. Tori made rapid eye contact with Mackenzie, enough to alert her that something was about to happen. “And you think it’s going to be easy handling both of us?” Tori asked in a cocky tone.

  To any other person, the smile that materialized on the man’s face at that moment would have made their skin crawl. “It will be a piece of cake,” he responded in a confident tone.

  “Then maybe you should eat it.”

  Before he could blink, Tori’s body went into action, and with a quick, high karate kick of her right leg, she knocked the gun from his grip before, with a succession of karate chops to the man’s midsection and lower abdomen, he crumpled to his knees. But not before staring at her with a shocked expression on his face.

  “Now for you to eat it.” Angrily, she quickly picked up the gun, intending to shove it down his throat, when a voice behind her stopped her.

  “Tori!”

  She whirled around and smiled when she saw her husband, Trevor, and Ashton.

  “We’re here now,” Sir Drake said to his wife, taking the gun from out of her hands before she could do further damage to someone who’d been stupid enough to threaten her. He glanced over at the man, who was actually shaking on his knees. “I think you’ve done enough.”

  She would have agreed if the man hadn’t managed at that moment to mumble the word “bitch.”

  Tori smiled sweetly at Drake. “Evidently not.” Before Drake could stop her, she whirled again and gave the man one hard karate kick to the side of his face that sent him sprawling to the cement floor.

  Mackenzie rushed over to them and grabbed hold of Ashton’s arm. “There’s another man outside, waiting in a truck. And we’ve got to get to Luke,” she said in a frantic tone. “Some woman is going to try and make him withdraw from the final competition in order to save me.”

  Luke could only stand there and stare at Nadine, totally convinced that she had gone off the deep end. “Where is Mac?”

  “Don’t worry, she won’t be bothering us any longer,” she said confidently.

  Luke could only stare at her. “You’re crazy if you think I’d marry you.”

  A fierce frown disfigured Nadine’s face and a pout touched her lips. “You will marry me or you will be sorry.”

  Luke took a step toward her, angrier than ever. He would shake Mac’s whereabouts out of her if he had to.

  “Luke, you’re up in ten minutes,” the timekeeper called out to say.

  Luke didn’t even turn around. Competing in that final event was the last thing on his mind now. Nothing was more important to him than finding out what this crazy woman had done to Mac. “Where is she, Nadine?” he said through gritted teeth, barely able to keep his anger in check. “Tell me where she is now.”

  “It’s too late. You can’t help her.”

  He reached out and jerked Nadine to him, almost snatching her off her feet. “Dammit, where is she?”

  “I’m here, Luke.”

  Keeping a tight grip on Nadine, he turned and saw Mackenzie quickly walking toward him with Sir Drake, Tori, Ashton, and Trevor in tow. Nadine saw Mac and nearly went berserk. Relief flooded his insides and he released Nadine.

  “How did you get away! Barry was supposed to take you somewhere and make sure you never bother me and Luke again!” Nadine all but shouted.

  Ignoring what she’d said, Luke rushed off toward Mac, who threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tight.

  Nadine pulled a pocketknife from her boot and prepared to attack Luke. Again Tori was quick with her feet and Nadine crumpled to the floor.

  “You might want to call security for her as well,” Tori said to Drake, Ashton, and Trevor.

  “Luke, you have five minutes,” the timekeeper called out.

  Luke ignored the man as he continued to hold Mac in his arms. He hadn’t been so frightened in his life. Nadine was a madwoman and the thought that she had arranged for something bad to happen to Mac had him quaking inside.

  Mackenzie pulled out of his arms. “You have to go, Luke, for the—”

  “There’s no way I’ll be able to compete again tonight. I almost lost you, and nothing, this rodeo, the damn title, means more to me than you.”

  Mackenzie fought back tears. “And nothing means more to me than you. I’m safe, Luke. Don’t let her win by losing your chance to regain the title. Tonight is your night. You’ve worked hard and you deserve that title. When it’s over we’ll keep to our plan to celebrate in our own special way.”

  “You’re up next, Madaris!” The timekeeper’s voice boomed out.

  Luke stood there and stared at Mackenzie before pulling her into his arms and kissing her. When he released her, he said, “Tonight isn’t my night, Mac, it’s our night.”

  He then glanced over at Ashton. “What about her?” he asked, motioning toward Nadine.

  “Security is holding her two cohorts,” Ashton responded. “The police have been called and are on the way. They will probably want to talk to you after you compete tonight. They’ll need to piece everything together from the beginning.”

  Luke nodded. “That’s fine. I suggest someone page her father, Preston Turner. He’s around here somewhere.”

  “Last call, Madaris!” the timekeeper shouted.

  Luke kissed Mackenzie once again before sprinting off to where the chute crew stood waiting.

  Several hours later Mackenzie stirred in Luke’s arms, and when she opened her eyes it was to find his gaze warmly caressing hers. She inwardly acknowledged for the hundredth time that night just how much she loved him. Shivers ran
through her body each and every time she thought of how, for the sake of her safety, he’d been willing to walk away from reclaiming the title.

  But fortunately, he hadn’t had to do that. Nadine Turner and the two men she had hired to cause havoc to get Luke’s attention, and, when that hadn’t worked, to get rid of Mackenzie, were now behind bars. No doubt Nadine’s father wouldn’t waste time getting his daughter the best attorneys, but what she really needed was psychiatric help.

  Mackenzie shifted her gaze to look past Luke’s shoulder and glance out the window. Day was just beginning to break. Suddenly she was filled with memories of the time spent in Luke’s arms once they had left the party that was to celebrate Luke’s winning the season title once again. They had refused to let what had happened with Nadine put a damper on things, and had made their appearance at the party. Later they had gone to his hotel room where they had had their own private victory party.

  “The entire day belongs to us, Mac.”

  At his husky words she glanced back at him and smiled before saying, “No, the rest of our lives belongs to us.”

  His arms reached for her and she went to him willingly, and then he kissed her, stoking the embers into a flame and together they shared a taste of passion once again.

  Epilogue

  June

  It seems that everyone turned out for what many thought was the event of the year—rodeo superstar Luke Madaris’s marriage to Oklahoma attorney Mackenzie Standfield. The wedding took place on the grounds of Luke’s uncle Jake’s ranch, Whispering Pines.

  It was a huge affair with guests coming all the way from the Middle East, and everyone was more than happy for the newly wedded couple, who were presently making their rounds greeting their many guests.

  Mama Laverne Madaris, who was sitting on a bench with one of her great-grandsons standing beside her, wiped tears from her eyes as she gazed upon the couple.