“Can we leave?” He released her wrists and stroked his thumb down her cheek. “Would Rachel mind?”
Longing swelled inside her. She briefly closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. “I can’t. It would bother me,” she admitted, pulling back and lowering her arms to her sides. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” His gaze caught on her lips and lingered. “I wouldn’t feel right, either.” He smiled. “Now, eating dessert someplace else is another story.”
That startled a laugh out of her. “Did you just want to kiss me, or was there something else?”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I already got my answer,” he said, taking her by the shoulders and turning her toward the path.
“What?” Curious, she squirmed away from his touch and looked at him. “Come on. Tell me.”
“I want to strip you naked and make love to you for hours.”
Melanie laughed, wishing the heat surging up her neck would go away. “Come on.... Really.”
He took her hand and pressed it to his fly. “Really,” he whispered, and this time she believed him.
* * *
“SO, LUCAS, HOW BIG is your ranch?” Joanna was a court reporter from Los Angeles or San Diego.... Melanie couldn’t remember which. All she knew for sure was that the nosy new arrival had planted herself directly across the table from them and seemed to have a million and one questions.
So far she’d found out that Lucas was thirty-two, from Wyoming, had spent a lot of time in Denver recently, owned a ranch, had attended college for two years before he decided it wasn’t for him, then later finished his degree online. Also that his only sister lived in Atlanta with her husband and new baby, and his mother and stepfather retired to Florida five years ago. He saw all of them a couple of times a year.
On the one hand, Melanie felt terrible for him. He’d handled the barrage of questions with grace and sometimes humor, but it couldn’t be pleasant. She wasn’t the one in the hot seat and she was feeling uncomfortable.
On the other hand, Melanie had learned more about him in the past ten minutes than she had in the thirty-some hours since she’d met him.
“Lucas, how big is your ranch?” Joanna repeated. “As big as the Sundance?”
He shook his head and kept chewing.
“Then how big is it?”
His patience was slipping. Melanie could see it now. First the nonverbal answers and the stiffening of his shoulders, then the tiny tic in his jaw.
“The Sundance is the second-largest ranch in the county,” Melanie said, hoping to redirect the conversation. “About three thousand acres, I think. The McAllisters have been here for close to a hundred and fifty years.”
“Yeah, that’s all on the website,” Joanna said without taking her gaze off Lucas. “So how many acres do you have?”
For a moment he didn’t say a word. “Four hundred.”
“Do you have horses, cows, the whole bit?”
He put his fork down. “You mentioned you’re a court reporter,” he said, and she nodded, appearing pleased he was taking an interest in her. “You should’ve been a lawyer. You ask enough questions.”
Joanna grinned. “I’ve heard that before.”
The other women hid nervous smiles.
Rachel was sitting at another table but must’ve been listening. She got up, brought over a pitcher of iced tea and asked Joanna about the weather in San Diego and then something about shopping across the Mexican border, which gave Lucas a reprieve. A very short one.
Joanna answered quickly, then turned back to him. “So, I’m curious, did you grow up on a ranch? I mean, how else do you learn how to run one, right?”
He’d picked up his fork again and was finishing his corn.
“God, Joanna, let the poor guy eat.” Her friend Vanessa had barely spoken, not that she’d had a chance.
“I’m just curious.” Joanna gave her a chilly glare. “How will I learn anything if I don’t ask questions?”
Melanie put her arm around Lucas’s shoulder and gently rubbed the tense muscles. If she’d surprised him, he didn’t let it show. He turned to her with a lazy smile as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be touching him.
She wasn’t quite as relaxed. There was nothing normal about her cozying up to a man in public. But if she was going to do it anywhere in Blackfoot Falls, this was the easiest place for her to be herself.
Odd thought, though she had no time to analyze it.
“Oh. I didn’t—” Joanna cut herself off. How refreshing. “You two are together?” she asked, swinging her disappointed expression from Melanie to Lucas.
Laughter erupted at Joanna’s clueless reaction, though to be fair, she’d come after their little disappearing act into the woods.
Lucas ignored her. He ignored everyone. Anyone watching would think he had eyes only for Melanie. Of course, she knew the idea was absurd but it was still thrilling.
“So, Melanie, I assumed you were from Blackfoot Falls,” Joanna said. “Where did you guys meet?”
Still looking at Lucas, Melanie bit her lip and then just laughed. She couldn’t help herself.
Lucas shook his head, sharing in her amusement. Then he turned to the woman. “Joanna,” he said. “Eat.”
Her jaw slackened. “Well, excuse me. I’m only trying to make conversation.” She picked up her half-full glass. “More tea, please,” she said to Rachel, who’d already moved on to another table.
She returned with the pitcher and poured with a smile. “Mel, are you finished? Would you mind giving me a hand?”
Rachel walked over to the buffet table and started cutting a chocolate sheet cake into squares. “Sorry about this,” she murmured under her breath as soon as Melanie joined her. “I’m gonna kill Trace and Jesse. They were supposed to have dinner with us.” She sighed. “Probably better they didn’t.” She sneaked a peek at Joanna. “That girl may have the honor of being the first guest I throw out on her ass.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” Melanie looked in the bag Jamie had left and found small paper plates. Her gaze drifted over to Lucas. His back was to her but he turned right at that moment and winked. For a second, she completely forgot what she was doing. Ah, the paper plates. “Are you using these for the cake?”
Rachel nodded. “Poor Lucas. If you guys want to shove off, I don’t blame you.”
“Is Jamie coming back out to help you clean up?”
“I’ll be fine. Go on. Maybe you two can have dinner with Matt and me before Lucas leaves town. We’ll eat at the Lone Wolf. In peace.”
“You know there’s nothing going on between us, right?”
“Well, there should be.” Rachel was quick with the spatula, filling the plates as fast as Melanie set them out. “Lucas is obviously into you. And I have never seen you put your arm around a man under eighty.”
Melanie groaned. “I was being polite and defending him.”
“Uh-huh.” Rachel grinned. “Get out of here. Go defend him someplace in private.”
Melanie felt her cheeks heat. Rachel was blushing, too. But she always did, even when she wasn’t embarrassed. “I’ll help you pass out the cake first.”
“Go. Now.” Rachel took a plate out of her hand. “That being said, I’m so glad you came. I wish I had a mute button for some of the guests, but hey....” She shrugged. “Now scoot.”
Melanie nodded and turned to Lucas. He was already headed toward her, his determined smile
making her breath catch.
9
LUCAS STOPPED THE TRUCK at the end of the driveway. No one was coming down the gravel road. He was free to make the turn that would take them to Blackfoot Falls. But he wasn’t ready to say good-night to Melanie, and he had the feeling that once they entered the town limits, everything would change between them. She’d go back to being shy and nervous, constantly on guard.
It reminded him of how he’d felt in prison that first year. Always watching, waiting, wondering who might be lying low for him. Except Melanie was the town do-gooder. She seemed to like feeling needed. Him, he’d been full of rage and confusion and looking for release. Spending his time beefing up and seeking answers with his fists. What a hell of a year.
She turned expectantly to him. “What are you waiting for?”
“The stars.”
“What?” Laughing, she looked up at the sky through the windshield. “I see some, but it’s not dark enough yet. There’ll be a whole slew of them in another hour.”
“You don’t realize how much you take them for granted until you can’t see them,” he said, searching between the scudding clouds.
“Did you have a different iced tea than the rest of us?” she said, sitting back with a laugh.
He looked over at her. She sure was pretty with her dark hair and pink cheeks. “I wanted to apologize to Rachel before we left, but I figured that might make things worse. I’ll do it later.”
“What on earth do you have to apologize for?”
“I should’ve been more patient with Joanna.”
“Are you kidding? She was horrible and rude and made everyone uncomfortable. Rachel was so irritated, I wouldn’t be surprised if she said something to her.”
Leaning back, he stretched out his arm and idly twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Were you uncomfortable?”
“Me? I hated that you were cornered by all those questions.”
“I didn’t have to answer.”
She hesitated. “Were you telling the truth? I mean, did you make things up just to—? Never mind.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Seriously, why are we just sitting here?”
“I’m trying to figure out which way to go.”
“There’s only one highway.” Melanie paused to moisten her lips with a slow swipe of her tongue. She’d probably hate to know what that just did to him. “It takes you in and out of town.”
“Is that where we want to go?”
“I don’t know but we better decide. I think those are headlights coming from the Sundance.”
He checked the side mirror, put the truck in gear and drove. Maybe she was fine with their night ending in the twenty minutes it would take him to drop her off. He didn’t believe that, not after the kiss earlier. But with Melanie being the town good girl and all... And they’d only just met... Was it yesterday?
Damn, it didn’t seem possible. He did the math. Yep, he’d arrived yesterday. Still didn’t seem possible.
“How about the Watering Hole?” he asked, figuring she’d prefer a more public place.
“What about it?”
“Want to have a drink? Wait for those stars to show up?” He waited for her response and got nothing but silence. Finally, he turned to look at her, only to find her frowning and worrying her lip. “Does the bar get rowdy on Saturdays? We don’t have to go there.”
“I’ve never been.” She sounded surprised, which didn’t make sense. “I mean, I’ve been inside but only twice, for Safe Haven board meetings. Sadie’s the owner. She lets us meet there before the bar opens.”
Lucas wasn’t sure what to think. Some people never went to bars, he supposed. For a solid year he’d been so busy fixing up his ramshackle ranch he hadn’t stepped foot in a bar or even a restaurant. He hadn’t had the time or money. But Blackfoot Falls was a small town with limited entertainment, and she’d lived here all her life.
“You have something against the Watering Hole?” he asked. “Or bars in general?”
“Neither.” She shrugged. “No one’s ever asked me to go and I certainly wouldn’t go in by myself. Especially now with all the Sundance guests— Oh, we’d probably run into Joanna.”
“Ah, shit.” Lucas winced. “Sorry.”
Melanie laughed. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Yep, we’re skipping anyplace in town.” They were about five minutes away, and he was hoping she’d invite him to her house.
“There’s really nothing from here to Kalispell. And it’s too late to go that far.”
He glanced at the dash clock. Only eight-thirty. “What, no sleeping in on Sundays?”
She sighed. “Sleep in? What’s that?”
“Safe Haven? I can help with feeding the animals.”
“Tomorrow’s covered. I’ll be busy with church stuff,” she said, her voice low and tentative. “Driving Gertrude and Pauline to morning service, for one thing.”
Hell, Melanie really was a saint. Shopping, cooking, chauffeuring, and for a bunch of opinionated old ladies. He’d met four of them. “I’d bet good money that Pauline rides shotgun and tells you when to brake, when to turn and how to park.”
She laughed. “Every Sunday. Care to join us?”
“Gee, I’d like to help you out but...”
“Coward.”
“A smart man knows when to stand down. I’m not tangling with those two.”
“They’re really very sweet. Usually.” Sighing, she relaxed against the leather headrest. “And time-consuming.”
“Hey. I was teasing.” He caught her hand. “You know I’ll help if you need me.”
Melanie straightened. “I wasn’t complaining. They’re part of my routine.... I don’t mind.” Slowly she turned her hand over so their palms met. “You’re welcome to go to service with us if you want.” She paused, waiting for his response, stiffening at his silence. “I don’t know if you even attend—” She cleared her throat. “We have three denominations in the area, if you need directions.”
“I won’t.” He’d lost his faith the day the judge passed down his sentence. Man, he’d been naive. Hard to admit now. He’d done the right thing, never dreaming he would get locked up for it.
They’d already entered town. He released her hand to grab the wheel, kind of surprised she hadn’t pulled away first. He should’ve figured her for a churchgoer. Didn’t matter to him. But he had a feeling his lack of interest mattered to Melanie.
He knew her street was coming up, but they hadn’t decided on what to do next. It had to be her call. He hoped the evening would end with more than a few kisses.
“It’s on the left,” she said softly, and that settled it. She obviously wanted to go home, and he doubted she’d be leaving the light on for him.
Right before he made the turn, he saw a carload of Sundance guests coming up behind them. Hell, he couldn’t even go to the bar and get drunk in peace.
He pulled up in front of the small yellow house with its white picket fence and neatly trimmed yard. A wooden swing hung from the porch beams and a big pot of pink mums sat on the first step. Her home looked like a happy and safe place. Very Melanie.
And not like anything in his life. Or his future. Prison had taken care of that.
It was just as well they ended the night here. He still wanted Safe Haven’s cooperation in fostering mustangs, maybe letting PRN take some of the abandoned mares they were housing. Melanie believed in the program and thought Shea would be on board, too. He’d stick around since he had nowhere else to be for another week. He saw no reason why they couldn’t continue to work together. Maybe he’d even donate some time and muscle to building the new corral Levi had mentioned. But socializing? Her time and energy were limited. She wouldn’t want to waste them on the likes of him.
“Well, than
k you.” She’d turned to him while patting the door behind her, searching for the handle. “I wish we could’ve seen more stars.”
Lucas smiled, sadness mounting inside him like a persistent toothache. It hadn’t even occurred to her that they could spend the next few hours doing just that. When he couldn’t stand it another second, he leaned over to stop her fumbling.
She gasped, jerking back, then relaxed when she saw he’d meant only to lift the handle for her. The tip of her tongue slipped out to moisten her lips as it had earlier, and he had to look away.
“I’ll wait until you get inside,” he murmured, listening to the engine idle.
“It’s Blackfoot Falls, for heaven’s sake. You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
“Lucas?” Her voice shook, breaching his resolve to not look at her. “Did you want to come in?”
Even with her face in shadow he could see her uncertainty. “Do you want me to?”
As if on cue, her neighbor’s porch light came on. Melanie jerked a look at it. Across the street the front door of a brick house opened. An older man stepped outside, peering intently at them. He couldn’t see past the tinted windows. Wouldn’t shock Lucas if the guy walked over and pressed his nose to the glass.
“They don’t recognize your truck,” she said, her shoulders sagging. “Well, guess you don’t have to wait for me to get inside.” She tried to sound cheery. Considering the remark meant her invitation was no longer on the table.
It was okay. He got it. A small town like this and Melanie being a young single schoolteacher... What did he expect? His fault for getting his hopes up again. The town good girl wouldn’t be caught dead with a guy like him.
“Go,” he said. “Before they call the sheriff.”
“Oh, Lord, they probably will.” She pushed the door open, then glanced back at him. “I should kiss you. Give them all a show.”
Lucas just smiled. They both knew she wouldn’t dare.
She grabbed the white shirt she’d discarded earlier, climbed out and waved to the nosy man across the street. Apparently that wasn’t enough for him. He stood on his porch with his arms crossed over his paunch. Probably would stay right there until Lucas left. Something he had no intention of doing until Melanie was safely inside the house.
Need You Now Page 10
