His aunt tried to hide her surprise. “Sure, I’d love that.” She eyed him curiously but with a smile on her face.
“Thanks.”
“I remember a time when you three young boys would hike way up to the ridge with me. I loved taking you for walks.”
“And you’d turn your head and pretend not to see us all roll down the grassy hill and crash into each other.” The image made him smile. “It’s a good memory.”
“It is.”
He opened the door for her and they made their way down the road. His aunt was always stylish no matter what she was doing. Today, she wore a dark raspberry jogging suit, her blond hair pulled back in a perky ponytail, her shoes sparkling clean as if she’d never worn them a day in her life, while he knew better.
“It’s hard to believe Mason is getting married in a week,” she said. “I know your folks will be dancing at their wedding.”
“They will, if Mom has anything to say about it.”
Aunt Lottie looked off in the distance. “I miss them.”
“Me, too.”
They were quiet for a while, and then when they were far away from the house, and out of earshot of the crew, Aunt Lottie spoke up. “As much as I love having your company on this walk, I know something’s troubling you, Luke. Care to share it with me?”
“Aunt Lottie, you’re sure perceptive.”
“I just know you boys. And unless I miss my guess, this has something to do with that adorable girl, Katie.”
Luke drew breath in his lungs. “It does. I married her.”
“You married her?” His aunt stopped walking and tried her best poker face, but the shock in her voice gave her away.
“When we were in Vegas. It’s the cliché drunken-vows-at-the-Midnight-Chapel sort of deal. Nobody knows. Well, one other person knows, but I’m in terrible need of advice.”
Aunt Lottie nodded her head. “Why do I think you’re not too sorry about this marriage?”
“Because I’m not. I’m in love with Katie.”
“Oh dear,” she said. “I see the problem. Katie’s family won’t abide that.”
“They have no love for me, as you know. But actually, that’s not the problem. The real problem is that I just found out by total accident, that...that Katie is pregnant.”
“Pregnant? Oh my.” Aunt Lottie smiled. “It’s a blessing, Luke. Babies are little miracles. But does that mean she hasn’t told you?”
“Right, she hasn’t told me. I just found out last night by overhearing a conversation. And well, Katie’s been pressing me for a divorce. She’s worried about her family’s reaction and what the news of our secret marriage would do to her mother’s health.
“Honestly, Aunt Lottie, I think Katie is running scared. I know there are strong feelings there. She’s just afraid to admit it. Now I don’t know what to do. I’ve spoken to my attorney about filing for a divorce, putting the wheels in motion because Katie wanted to have this whole thing behind her. Unfortunately, my attorney is too efficient, and the papers have already been sent. But I won’t sign them. I won’t divorce her now that she’s carrying my child. But do I confront her about the baby?”
“Oh dear. Luke, I understand your impatience. But Katie is in a tough spot right now. She’s probably as confused as you are. Don’t put more pressure on her. Give her time to sort it out in her head. She’ll do the right thing.”
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “That’s easier said than done.”
“I know.” She turned to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, lending support and love. “Be patient with her. In the end, she’ll be grateful for it. And one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you dare divorce that girl.”
He laughed, feeling a lightheartedness he hadn’t felt in a long while. “I don’t plan to.”
* * *
Katie fumed, staring at the divorce papers she’d received by special messenger today. She couldn’t believe the terms Luke expected her to agree to. What was with that man, anyway? Their marriage wasn’t real. It had been a big fat mistake. She’d told him she wanted nothing from him, not one thing. But did Luke listen? No. He’d had his attorney draw up papers that went totally against her wishes.
She wouldn’t agree to his crazy terms. She picked up her phone and tapped out a text to him.
I need to see you, right away.
Her text was answered five minutes later. I can be there in half an hour.
She didn’t want Luke coming up to her apartment. She’d been getting curious looks from Lori lately, but her friend and employee was too discreet to question her. Aside from that, Katie didn’t want reminders of the last time they’d been together in her apartment.
She didn’t love the idea of meeting him in a restaurant either. There were too many people who might overhear their conversation. She couldn’t believe she’d had to resort to so much secrecy lately.
Not here, she texted. Meet me at Red Barrel in an hour.
Luke’s text came in fast. I’ll be there.
A short time later, Katie’s anger still simmered just under the surface as she drove up to the rescue. She parked her car next to Luke’s steel gray truck in the back of the parking lot. Apparently, he’d gotten here early and as she scanned the area, she found him leaning against the barn wall, the sight of him making her heart beat harder. Angry or not, whenever she spotted him, her initial reaction was breathless attraction, one she couldn’t quite seem to shake. It ticked her off that her body betrayed her mind.
She hadn’t seen him in over a week, but now his eyes held hers from across the yard, watching her every move. She grabbed her skinny briefcase out of the car, one that made her look professional. Luke pulled away from the wall, his tan hat low on his forehead, his swagger making her swallow down hard. Dressed in jeans, a tan chambray shirt and snakeskin boots, he epitomized Texas, the image of a man who knew strength and power.
He approached her, his intense sky blue eyes trained on her. She held firm, trying not to let her heart overrule her mission here.
“Katie, it’s good to see you.”
She swallowed. “Hello, Luke.”
“You want to talk?”
“Yes, I do.”
“There’s no one in the barn right now.”
Privacy was of the utmost importance to her and the barn would provide that. It was a slow time for the rescue. Most of the volunteers had already gone home. And Wes was usually in the office by now, finishing up on business.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“How are you feeling?” Luke asked as they headed for the barn.
“Me? I’m fine.”
“It’s just that you’ve been feeling tired lately.”
“No more than usual,” she fibbed.
Luke nodded and was quiet until they entered the barn. Once inside she stopped, shaking her head at his gesture for them to sit on a bale of hay.
He frowned and faced her.
She pulled out the divorce papers and held them tight in her hands. “This is not what we agreed on.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong is that you are proposing to give me half a million dollars and then pay monthly alimony of three thousand dollars! I can’t take that. I told you I wanted nothing and I meant it. I do fine on my own. At least I thought the bakery was doing well until I found out why.”
“You’d be successful regardless. Can’t you forget about that?”
“No, I can’t. I feel terribly betrayed. I feel like a fraud, like my hard work didn’t mean anything, I was pretty much ensured a monopoly in Boone Springs. The idea keeps me up at night.”
“Katie, dammit. You need to rest.”
Her jaw dropped. Was he kidding? He was responsible for many of her sleepless nights. “Then sto
p making me crazy. I don’t need your help or your money.”
His mouth grew tight for a few seconds, his face tensing up. And then all of a sudden, his eyes softened, the dark blue hue turning lighter, brighter. A big smile graced his face. “You know something, you’re totally right, sweetheart.” He took the divorce papers out of her hand. “This is all wrong.”
He tore the paper down the center, then neatly placed the two pieces together and tore them again. “Here you go,” he said, giving the squares back to her.
She stared at the ripped papers in her hand. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to give you what you want.”
“No... I don’t think that’s it. You gave in too easily. What are you up to?”
“Nothing at all. You didn’t want what I was offering. We have no deal now.”
“For heaven’s sake, Luke. It’s not a deal, it’s a divorce.”
“One in the same.”
A grotesque shrieking sound coming from outside interrupted them. It was so loud and ungodly, she had to find out what it was. She ran to the barn door and looked outside to the corral.
A giant hawk was swooping down on Cinnamon, winging over the horse inches from her head. The mare backed up and huffed, whinnying in panic as the bird continued to terrorize her. The hawk didn’t back down. It kept on swooping and screeching at the horse.
Katie raced to the fence and screamed at the hawk. “Go! Get out of here!” She called to Luke, “He’s relentless!”
Luke ran past her and the next thing she knew, he was behind the butt end of a rifle, taking aim.
“You’re not going to shoot him, are you?”
He took his shot, the sharp snap of gunfire exploding in her ears. The hawk flew away, leaving the mare in peace finally.
“You didn’t miss, did you?”
“Nope, wasn’t trying to kill it. Just scare the damn thing away.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that. Have you?”
“It’s nothing more than a mama protecting her young, I’d imagine. There must be a nest around here. Or maybe one of her young’uns fell from the nest and Mama took it out on the closest one around.”
“Cinnamon?”
“Just speculating.”
She pointed at the rifle Luke held in one hand. “Where did you get that?”
“From my truck. I didn’t see Wes’s car and figured he was gone. It was up to me to take care of it.”
“Well, that you did.” She swallowed. “Could you please put it away?”
Surprise registered on his face. “Sure thing. I’ll be a minute.”
He turned and walked off, and Katie took a good look at the mare. She was still, motionless as if the hawk had put her in a state of shock. Maybe it was the loud ring of the rifle as well.
Katie opened the corral fence, looking into the mare’s eyes. She didn’t flinch, didn’t seem to mind her approach. “Easy, girl, I’m coming,” she said. She took several more steps toward Cinnamon. “That’s it. Good girl.”
She was making progress, speaking to the mare as she inched closer and closer.
“Katie, get out of there. Now.” Luke’s voice came from behind.
“Be quiet. She’s letting me approach.”
“You don’t need to approach her. She’s a wild one,” he said through gritted teeth. Katie didn’t dare turn to look at him. He was following her around the corral fencing.
“Not now, she’s not. Stay put, Luke.”
“Like hell I will.”
“She’ll spook if you try to come in and you know it.”
“Are you trying to give me a damn heart attack?”
She smiled. He was being melodramatic. Katie knew horses just as well as anyone in Boone Springs, and she knew this one was ready to make friends.
“There, there, girl,” she said softly. She put out her hand. “We’re gonna be friends, you and me.”
The horse snorted.
Katie waited and finally Cinnamon took a step toward her and then another step. The horse kept her eyes trained on her. Katie did the same. They were forming a bond, trusting each other, although tentatively.
Finally, the horse halted, going as far as she trusted, and Katie took the final step toward her. Inching closer, she touched her palm to the mare’s nose. The mare held still as Katie stroked her up and down. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”
“Katie, you proved your point. Now get out of there.” Luke’s voice was low and strained.
“I know what I’m doing,” she murmured.
Just then a blue jay flitted over Cinnamon’s head. After what she’d just been through with the hawk, the horse spooked and kicked up her front legs. She came down hard and slammed into Katie’s side. The jolt tossed her onto the packed ground. “Ow!”
“Dammit.” Luke catapulted over the fence and scooped her up. “You are insane,” he said, as he carried her out of the corral. He latched the gate, gave one deadly look over his shoulder at Cinnamon and headed to the barn.
The sun was setting now, casting long shadows on the land. Whatever sunshine was left didn’t follow them into the barn. Katie could only make out the lines of fury around Luke’s mouth, the dangerous slant of his eyes.
“You can put me down now,” she said quietly.
“Can I?” His voice was harsh, impatient. “Maybe you’ll decide to do another fool thing, like chase after a mountain lion or wrestle a bear.”
“Luke.”
“Hell. Are you hurt?” He kept her close and let her down slowly, her body brushing against his. Once her boots hit the ground, he probed her shoulders, her arms, gently applying pressure to her rib area. “Any pain here?” he asked.
“No.”
Reaching behind her, he checked her spine and lower back, then laid his hands on her buttocks. “Here?”
She cleared her throat. “Nothing hurts.”
Yet his touch was familiar, comforting and welcome. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. Her body came alive under his touch.
“Thank God for that. You could’ve been crushed.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“Pure luck.” His anger mingled with a look of genuine relief. “Don’t worry me like that again.”
Katie absorbed his words. She should be spitting mad at him for making demands he had no right making, yet she wasn’t mad at all. His concern touched her deeply. She couldn’t remember feeling this way about anyone before or having someone care so much for her. She approached him and laid her head on his chest, enjoying the sweet sensations rushing through her. She’d never admit it to him, but when the mare bucked up and then came down, Katie froze, knowing she was going to get shoved. And she’d sent up prayers that the jolt wouldn’t harm the baby she carried.
She’d been lucky her prayers were answered.
Luke stroked her back, letting his hands glide up and down, easing the rough knock she’d taken. It felt right all of a sudden, more right than it should, and she gave in to the comfort.
He tipped her chin up and claimed her mouth in an inspiring kiss. He tasted delicious and her yearnings heightened, her breaths came faster. Luke broke off the kiss and grabbed her hand. “Come with me,” he said.
He tugged her to the back of the barn and grabbed a quilted horse blanket. Throwing it down over a bed of straw, he straightened it out a bit, then lay down, bringing her with him.
She turned to him. “What about Wes?”
“He’s gone. I told him earlier I’d lock up for him if he had to leave. We’re alone here.”
They weren’t entirely alone. An image flashed in her mind of the three of them becoming a family, her, Luke and their baby. Tears burned behind her eyes. She wanted to tell him so badly about his child, about him becoming a father. But she held back. Call her a coward, but she wasn’t
ready for the backlash. She wasn’t ready to own up to the truth. He’d expect something from her, something she couldn’t really give.
She was silent for a few seconds and then Luke asked, “Sweetheart, you sure you’re not hurt?”
She took his face in her hands and pressed a kiss to his lips. “No, I’m not hurt, Luke.”
Then she unfastened his shirt, one snap at a time, eager to touch his skin, kiss his powerful chest. And fall deep into oblivion until the stars faded in the night sky.
* * *
Luke shed his clothes quickly, with Katie not far behind. Then he covered his body over hers, warming her up, kissing her senseless. He loved this woman and had wanted to die a thousand deaths when he saw that wild mare nearly stomp the life out of her. Katie had been lucky and he hoped to heaven she’d take better precautions next time. If not for her, for their baby.
Surely, she wouldn’t do anything to endanger their child, but for a moment there, back in the corral, Luke hadn’t been sure. He’d nearly blurted out that he knew about the baby, and only stark fear from seeing that mare knock Katie to the ground had shut him up.
He wanted her to come to him with the truth on her own. He didn’t want to bully it out of her. Aunt Lottie had told him to be patient, and he was trying. Really trying.
Her little moans brought him back to the moment and he kissed her again, weaving his hands in her long silky blond hair. She was sweet and gentle and beautiful everywhere. He treasured every morsel of her body, caressing her breasts, their undeniable softness arousing the hell out of him. Next, he lay his palm on her belly and sweeping joy entered his heart, thinking of the child they’d both created. But he didn’t linger there. He moved his hand past her navel to stroke her inner folds. She was soft there, too, and her heat caused his breath to speed up and his body to grow painfully hard.
“Katie,” he murmured, finding her sweet spot. He caressed her there, over and over, her body moving wildly until she whimpered and cried out his name. There was no better sound. Then he sheathed himself and rose over her, joining their bodies.
Vegas Vows, Texas Nights Page 11