Wrong Side of Love [Wayback Texas]

by Sylvie Kaye

  Inside the bedroom, candles cast a soft amber glow. Lili posed in front of the bed, arms at her sides, legs slightly spread. A black lace strip around her breasts and belly was joined by a thin string of black lace that disappeared into her crotch. She looked sexy as all get out. Her eyes were glazed, her hair tossed about her face, and her lips pursed and coaxing.

  While unable to take his eyes from the sight of her, he yanked his boots off, tore his shirt open, and tugged his jeans down. Stepping out of his pants, he kicked them aside. He stood before her, his arousal jutting out and his sac tight with desire. He closed his eyes briefly to gain control over his raging testosterone and then reached out to rip the thin string of black that held her lacy outfit together.

  She gasped, her mouth opening into a small O. Lust shone in her eyes and gripped his gut.

  "Take the rest of it off,” he croaked, hoarsely.

  She peeled off the top. The strip of lace that clung to her curvy bottom took a few shimmies and shakes, which tantalized and spiked his desire even higher. His throat went dry, and he swallowed hard.

  When she was naked, she took his shirt front in her hands and tugged his shirt sleeves down his arms, trapping his arms at his sides. He could break loose, but he didn't want to. He was hot to see what Lili would do next.

  Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth in a flirtatious fashion, she rubbed her nude body against his. Her skin was hot and tender. Her breasts were firm and ripe against his chest. The nipples nubby. Pressing her mouth to his, she suckled his lips, tugged with her teeth, and licked with her tongue. His blood sizzled. His heart hammered like Storm Trooper's hoofs.

  Reclining back against the mattress, she tugged his shirt to pull him to her. He went willingly. She cradled his heavy sex between her thighs and wrapped her legs around his waist. She kissed him, her lips hot and gentle.

  "Enough.” He freed his arms and stripped the shirt off, tossing it aside.

  Once his arms were loose, he hugged her to him, gripping her waist while he cupped her breast, kneading and kissing, suckling and biting. She arched her back, spurring him on.

  Moving to her other breast, he manipulated the nipple, plucking and sucking. She rocked her hips, nudging her sex against his erection. She was slick and hot and open, the sensation so exquisitely enticing, he was hard-pressed not to penetrate her right now.

  "Do you have a rubber?” he murmured, unwilling to move away from her and search for his jeans.

  "Several."

  Her reply brought a smile to his lips. He was in for a long night and glad of it.

  She reached under the pillow and handed him a square foil packet. He protected them and then entered her to the hilt. He went still, enjoying the sensations of her walls contracting while he filled her and lost all thought to her.

  Slowly, he began to thrust, making love to Lili with his body and his eyes and his mouth. He kissed her over and over while his body stroked hers, and they moved in a perfect tempo.

  When her breath quickened and her orgasm reached a crescendo, he let himself go.

  Entirely.

  He professed his true feelings to Lili aloud. “I love you."

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  Chapter Fifteen

  Lili didn't reply. Couldn't reply. Luc had hinted in the past that he had feelings for her, but this was the first time he'd admitted how strong they were.

  Love. Wow. She felt breathless and excited and scared, all at the same time. She gripped the sheet beneath her in her tight fingers.

  After a pause, she gathered her whirling emotions and put them into words. “Luc, I can't allow myself such permanent feelings. It would only break our hearts when I go."

  When she would've slipped from his arms, he held her there beneath him, gazing into her eyes. His were soft and caring and intense. His jaw was relaxed. His handsome face way too close.

  "It's okay,” he assured her, his voice as caressing as a kiss. “You don't have to say one word. I wanted you to know how I feel. That's all.” Then he kissed her. His lips were tender, his hug gentle.

  She clung to him. This would be their last time together like this. She couldn't risk letting him get this close again. He'd break down her will. She'd end up staying in Wayback. In years to come, she'd detest him for it and he'd regret it.

  He held her for a long while, and she savored the sensation. The feel of the tangled sheets silky against her body. His arms, strong and muscled around her. His eyes dark, shiny pools.

  Locking the moment in her mind for all time, she closed her eyes, holding them shut for so long Luc became a dream while she fell asleep.

  * * * *

  By the time Lili awoke, the sun had crept onto the horizon and peeped through the curtains in a pink blush. Luc had been awake for hours. He'd put out the candles, flushed the condom, and returned to bed, covering her curled up body with the sheet and tucking her against him.

  Her body felt great spooned with his. Her round bottom nestled against his crotch. Her warm back cuddling his chest. The gentle sigh of her breath, free from concern in her sleep.

  Disappointment wouldn't allow him to sleep. It hovered over him like a moody rain cloud.

  He didn't know what he'd expected when he'd told Lili of his love for her, but total rejection wasn't it. He'd needed a grand gesture to win her over, but this sure as hell hadn't been it.

  What had he be thinking?

  That was it. He hadn't been thinking. He'd reacted to the emotional heat of the moment.

  She rolled onto her back, stretched, yawned, and flickered her eyes open.

  "Good morning, beautiful,” he said.

  She smiled. “Good morning, yourself."

  He could tell when the realization of last night set in. The shine left her eyes. Her smile drooped a bit. She edged away from him.

  "I guess I better not loll in bed. I have a gigantic clean up downstairs.” With that, she rolled from bed, grabbed a pair of jeans from the closet, and slipped them on.

  "We have a gigantic cleanup,” he corrected, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

  "No work for you. You're the birthday boy.” She scooted across the floor, trampling barefoot over the black lace scrap of lingerie from the night before. Opening a drawer, she tossed on a clean T-shirt.

  He grabbed his jeans and jammed his legs into them. Tugging on his shirt, he followed her to the bathroom where she handed him his toothbrush and went to work on her own teeth. After a hurried minty kiss, which she fled from, he trailed her down the staircase and into the kitchen where she busied herself measuring coffee and water and setting up the drip coffeemaker.

  He hovered nearby, seeking the words to make things right between them again. None came. Rifling his fingers into his hair, he just jumped in.

  "Lili, about last night. Can't we forget what I said and go back to the way things were between us? I don't like this awkwardness. Hell, I barely kissed you and—"

  She turned toward him but her eyes were downcast. “We can't go back."

  "Why not?” he demanded.

  "It had to end between us anyway when I left."

  He was hard-pressed to argue her reasoning but he had to try. “It will be easier after you're gone, and I can't see you anymore. With you here in town, I can't stay away,” he admitted. “When I look at you, I want to kiss you and hold you."

  Her eyes looked dull and sad, as if to say that was exactly the point.

  Silence stretched between them. The only sound from the drip coffeemaker hissing and spitting as the aroma of brewed coffee permeated the room. He was at a loss for words.

  A loud knock on the back door made her jump. When it persisted, he strode over and flung it open.

  Bobby Lee stood there. He hiked his belt and grinned. “Do I smell fresh coffee?"

  No one replied.

  He shifted his weight, awkwardly. “I swung by to help you move out, Mayor. You ready?"

  He gestured for Bobby Lee to come on in. “I'm ready." />
  Lili had made it clear there wasn't anything left for Luc here.

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  Chapter Sixteen

  By Monday morning, the house was back in shape after the party, and Lili didn't have another tear left to shed. Coming out of the steamy shower, she sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her open closet.

  She dragged a heavy sigh through her lungs. Breaking it off with Luc had been the hardest thing she'd ever done.

  She ran her hand over the clean sheets. Going to bed with Luc had been the worst idea. Things had gotten too serious, fast, once they'd had sex. Neither of them was the type for casual affairs it seemed.

  When the phone rang, she hesitated before answering. Suppose it was Luc. But why would it be? He hadn't called at all yesterday. He'd accepted their parting.

  "Hello."

  "It's Gretch. I was on my way to your salon when I had a flat tire. I didn't call Ned. It's a relief to get away from my bodyguard for a few hours.” She laughed. “I was going to change the tire myself, but I don't have a tire iron."

  "Luc's not here. He moved into Bobby Lee's place yesterday."

  "I know. I didn't call to talk to Luc. He's been nagging me to get new tires, and I don't cherish hearing his I-told-you-so.” She paused. “I was wondering if you'd come out and pick me up."

  She'd have to call Suzie to take her seven a.m. hair appointment with Rita Mae, but a ride and a dose of fresh air might help clear Lili's head. “Where are you?"

  "Before the bend in the road near the Circle D Ranch."

  "Hitch Lawrence bought the Circle D. Maybe you should see if he's out there and borrow a tire iron?"

  "I'm walking back to my pickup from his place right now. No trucks, cars, or life out here. Now that I think on it, Hitch mentioned that Ray-Ray set the closing on the ranch for next month."

  "I'm on my way.” Lili hung up the phone. While she wriggled into her jeans and boots, she hit Suzie on speed dial.

  Suzie agreed to do Rita Mae's highlights. “Not to worry."

  While buttoning her cotton shirt, Lili bolted down the stairs, grabbed her purse, and ran out the back door. The screen door snapped shut behind her. The morning air was cool, and the sky sunny.

  To keep her mind off Luc, she tuned the radio in her hybrid SUV to a country-western station and sang along with Reba as she tooled out of Wayback toward the Circle D.

  Twenty minutes later, she spotted Gretchen's pickup, listing on its rear passenger side, the tire flatter than a pancake and balder than Lili's brother-in-law, Judd, who shaved his head claiming it was GQ.

  Parking the SUV, she hopped out of the vehicle and shouted Gretch's name. Silence. Thinking Gretch must've backtracked after talking to her, Lili rang her cell number.

  No answer. She tried again. Still no answer. Gretch's phone must be in a dead zone.

  She jumped back into the SUV and steered for the roadway to the Circle D Ranch, which she supposed would soon be the Circle L once Hitch Lawrence owned the spread.

  The road was dusty and bumpy and driving was slow. She turned the radio off and rolled the window down. Every few yards, she braked to call out, “Gretch, Gretch."

  When she reached the ranch, she climbed out to open the gate. The gate hung from a busted hinge and took a two-handed effort to push open. She swiped the rust and dirt from her hands onto the sides of her jeans and glanced around. She yelled for Gretch again.

  Caw, caw. Just a crow replied. The only other sound was the rustle of an animal in the brush in the nearby woods.

  She left the gate wide open after driving through and punched the gas pedal. The rear end fishtailed as the SUV ate up the road.

  The ranch house looked deserted when she drove up. Worry set in. She parked and bounded up the walkway onto the porch. The windows were boarded and when she tried the knob, the door was locked. She rattled the knob several more times, but the door didn't give.

  "Gretch. Gretch.” She trotted around to the back door, but it was also bolted tight.

  Sitting down on the back porch steps, she hit redial. Still no luck. Gretch's cell phone went right to voice mail.

  The place was eerily quiet except for the buzz of an insect. She searched the cell's address book for Maggie. She was a friend, but the number was for the Mercy Creek stables where she usually could be found. And, hopefully, where Ned was.

  Figuring he was closer to the Circle D than Luc, she hit Send when she found the number.

  "Hey,” Ned answered on the first ring.

  "It's Lili—"

  "I was hoping it was Gretch."

  "It's about Gretch. She didn't walk back to Mercy Creek, did she?"

  "No.” His voice rose.

  "She called that she'd had a flat and asked me to pick her up out near the Circle D turnoff. When I reached her truck, she was nowhere around. I drove out to the ranch house where she'd gone for help. No one is here.” She paused, thinking she saw movement down near the barn. “The house is boarded up."

  "I'll hop in the truck and come out there. If I find her walking along the road, I'll call you back."

  "I'll check the outbuildings here.” She stood up and moseyed down the stony, uneven lane toward the barn and empty corral.

  "Get out of there. Thad Lowry's still on the loose."

  She couldn't leave. Suppose Gretch was here and she'd had an accident? What if she couldn't call out for help?

  "I'm hanging up now so I don't run the phone battery down.” She flipped the cell shut but held it in her hand.

  Two huge trees alongside the pathway cast creepy shadows across her boot tips. She hurried to get past them and back out into the sunshine.

  "Stop right there."

  The voice was familiar and greasy. Before she could run, Lowry knocked the cell phone from her hand. It arced into the air and landed with a clunk onto the rocky path in front of her.

  She didn't stop to pick it up as she tore down the lane. Her foot turned on another rock, but her boot supported her ankle and it didn't slow her down.

  Whack. Tackled from behind, she went down, hard. Her hands scraped along the gravel path, and her knees hit the packed dirt, burning denim for a few inches until her momentum died.

  Her breath was knocked out of her for a few gasps while Lowry's heavy weight pinned her to the ground.

  He yanked her head upward by her hair. Her neck hurt where it arched high. His voice rasped close to her ear. “Me, you, and Gretch are going to have a high ole’ time in the barn, rolling naked in the hay. When I'm done, I'm going to burn it down. With you two inside."

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  Chapter Seventeen

  "Morning, Suzie. Where's Gretch?” Luc scanned the shop.

  Suzie left Rita Mae in the beauty chair with aluminum foil sticking out from her head like TV antennas. Once she rounded the reception desk, she lowered her voice. “I'm not supposed to tell, but it's getting late and I'm worried."

  "You'd better tell. I'll keep it between us.” He sucked in a breath, hoping Lili hadn't left town without giving him a chance to talk to her first.

  "Gretch had a flat tire, and Lili drove out to fetch her. They should've been back awhile ago, and Lili hasn't called either.” She bit her lip.

  "Shoot. Where'd she get the flat?"

  As soon as Luc pried all the information from Suzie, he lit out of town for the Circle D. Barreling down the road, he phoned Lili to no answer. As the truck ate up the roadway, he called Ned to find out why he wasn't with Gretch. The ranch hand explained that she'd slipped out on him. He then relayed the details Lili had given him only moments before.

  "I was going to call you as soon as I got underway.” Ned sounded breathless like he was running. “I warned Lili to get out of there. Although there hasn't been hide nor hair seen of Lowry in weeks, I have a prickly feeling he's still around."

  "I smell him in this, too.” Luc heard the engine on Ned's truck fire up and he hung up. As he closed in on the turn off, he tr
ied Lili's number again. Still no damn answer.

  He slowed down near Gretch's abandoned truck. Lili's SUV was nowhere in sight. Stomping on the gas, he wheeled up the bumpy roadway, giving the truck no quarter. The gate to the ranch was open and he gunned on through.

  Lili's vehicle was parked in front of the ranch house. In a splatter of gravel, he braked to a dead stop. Snagging his rifle from the gun rack, he stalked toward the house.

  He broke in through a basement window and began his search. Tugging the string next to a bare bulb, he blinked as the cellar took on a dim glow. The cement room came away empty except for a few jugs and crates. Upstairs, the door opened into the kitchen and once he burst through the chained latch he checked it out. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. He hunkered down and darted through the dining room and living room. Both were vacant. Moving up to the second floor, he did a quick inventory of the bedrooms and bath. Each and every room was uninhabited. Not even a stray cat or a mouse.

  Outside again, he listened for sounds. Aside from the usual outdoor noises—the whisper of the wind through the tree tops, the hum of insects, the scampering of squirrels or other small wildlife—he thought he heard an echo of a muffled sob.

  He hastened down the lane toward the barn, keeping low, ducking behind the trees. Alongside a rock, he spotted a battered cell phone. It looked like Lili's. He didn't stop to pick it up, keeping his pace steady and fleet. When he reached the barn, he heard voices and scuffling. The barn door was opened a crack. Peering into the darkness he saw three figures, two of them half-naked.

  His hand gripped the rifle tighter. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness so he shot the right one.

  * * * *

  Both Lili and Gretch were stripped down to a few pieces of clothing. Lili was down to her bra and panties, Gretch to her denim work shirt, which covered her to mid-thigh but was minus a sleeve.

  Lowry had been rough. Slapped them around after tying their hands and feet and gagging their mouths. Now, he'd cut their ankles loose from the ropes.

  "Let's have a contest and see who can spread their legs the widest for me.” He smirked and kicked Lili.