He snapped a stick in half and fed it to the flames. “Words have never been important to me.”
“They were to me. I needed to hear them.”
“Are you fishing to hear them now?”
She didn’t, couldn’t, answer. Emotions filled her throat, making words impossible.
“You won’t. I’ll never give my love to a woman. All women are interested in is money and power.”
She gasped in disbelief. “You can’t believe I was after your money then.”
He laughed, but the sound held no amusement. “No, I can’t. I didn’t have any. Maybe that was the attraction. I was the forbidden, the unknown. The poor boy from the other side of town.” The sharp snap of another stick emphasized his words. “I was a novelty, wasn’t I? It was all a game to you.”
She tried to tamp the anger down. “I don’t play those kinds of games.”
“So what was it, Dani? Why me?”
“I told you. I loved you.” To her humiliation, her voice trembled.
“That’s not what your father said.”
Danielle bit her lip, confusion making it impossible to think. “Why did you ask him for the money?”
“He offered it.” Jace’s words were short, clipped.
Her world tilted, all her beliefs sliding into a jumbled mass she was certain she would never get sorted out. “Why?”
“How the hell should I know?” His shoulders lifted as he pulled air into his lungs. His next words were softer, but the anger still loomed in his voice. “He told me he wanted you to be happy and he knew this would give me a chance to get the ranch settled.”
She waited, wanting to believe, but not daring to allow herself. Her father would never lie to her.
“I didn’t want the money. I wanted to do it by myself. But your father doesn’t take no for an answer. Finally, I agreed to take the money as a loan. With interest.” Jace dragged a hand through his hair but didn’t turn to face her. “Danielle, he didn’t tell you the truth that day.”
“Daddy wouldn’t do that.”
Jace let his silence answer her.
Her heart shattered and she felt that all her hopes for her future with Jace had been dashed. If he couldn’t be honest with her now, they stood little chance of having a real relationship. “Are you calling my father a liar?”
“That seems like a harsh word. I do know when I went to the bank, payment had been stopped on the check. And when I called your house, you were gone.”
The tension stretched between them until Danielle was certain something would snap.
A low rumble sounded in the distance. Jace stood, effectively breaking the standoff. He pulled the window shade aside. “Finally. Snowplows.”
Still clutching the pillow, Danielle rose to her feet. With a flood of relief, she realized she could escape. She needed to get away from the magnetism he radiated. She needed time to think, to regroup.
“I want to go home, Jace. I’ll call you in the morning.” As she tried to move past him, he caught her arm, halting her retreat.
“You are home, Danielle.”
Chapter Six
The light of battle faded from her eyes, filling Jace with regrets. But he couldn’t let her go now.
Not when he was so close to having her again.
“Then I’ll go to bed.” Shaking off his hand, she turned and left the room, taking with her the good-night kiss he’d been hoping for.
Alone in the room, Jace thought back on the past eleven years.
The old man had failed.
Years ago, Jace’s father had spirited away a prime piece of ranch land from the Simmons family. Danielle’s father had been embarrassed and humiliated by the loss and didn’t forgive easily.
Tyrone Simmons had not only wanted to keep Danielle away from a man he considered unfit for his daughter, but he’d wanted to destroy the son of a man who’d dared to defy the power of the Simmons family. Jace had finally managed to outmaneuver Simmons on both counts.
So why did Jace have the sense he was teetering on the edge of failure?
Trying to rub the exhaustion from the back of his neck, he stared into the fire. Because Danielle might never learn to love him again. Their past stood between them, muddying the waters of their future. In spite of all the lies between them, he wanted to bask in the warmth her love would offer.
And maybe, just maybe, he would allow his heart to feel something for her, even if he wouldn’t let himself fall in love with her again. He couldn’t forgive her for her lack of faith all those years ago. But they could learn to go on, find a way to make a satisfying life.
To start with, they had the passion that burned between them, a passion that had never faded. Surely that was enough to sustain a marriage.
He could only hope for the best.
Closing the glass doors to the fireplace, he glanced at the empty stairway with regret All afternoon, while he’d fought the cold and the snow, he’d thought of Danielle, of sharing a pleasant evening with her in front of this very fire.
How long would it take before they learned to be friends?
Maybe he hadn’t won yet. Simmons was still a big influence in Danielle’s life. And she might never believe what her father was capable of.
But once she lived in this house every day, once her father became a more distant figure in her life, then Jace was hopeful he stood a chance.
He surveyed the empty room. There would be no sleep for him again tonight. Danielle taunted him even when she was closeted away in another room. Wearily, he went to his office and closed the door. The nice thing about a ranch the size of his was that the work was never finished.
The lone suitcase sat at the back door. Jace’s truck was warmed and waiting, a path to the main road plowed clear. He was dressed and ready for their wedding in a charcoal-gray Western-cut suit.
All he needed now was Danielle.
And he needed her so desperately it scared him. He’d lost her before and barely survived. If he allowed his heart to feel a second time, he didn’t think he could bear to lose her. So he chose to seal up his emotions and keep her at a distance. Besides, until she could show that she trusted him, believed in him, he needed to hold her at arm’s length.
The floor creaked, announcing her arrival in the kitchen, and all his vows evaporated.
Still wearing the same outfit on day three, she looked amazingly well groomed. But the dark smudges under her eyes attested to the fact that she had again slept little more than he had.
She flashed him a wan smile and held up her purse and coat. “I guess I’m all packed.”
“I thought we’d have breakfast on the road, then try to do some shopping before we leave town.” He glanced at his watch. “The minister won’t be available until three o’clock, so we should have plenty of time to get everything you need.”
A tremor of reaction shook her delicate frame and she edged back one step. “I’m not really hungry.”
Wanting to hold her, comfort her, he forced himself to remain where he was, not certain of his reception. Crossing his arms, he made a silent plea for the right words, for her understanding.
“I’d like to get along, Danielle. Why make both our lives miserable by constantly fighting?”
Mimicking his posture, she crossed her arms and leaned against the opposite wall. “You’ll have everything you want after we’re married.”
He didn’t dare admit her words were true.
“So what’s in it for me?” she asked.
He couldn’t resist, even offered her a tentative smile. “Me?”
She shook her head. “Not good enough. You’ve slandered my family, threatened me, forced me to marry you. I repeat, what’s in it for me?”
“That sounds like a bad melodrama.” When the anger flashed in her eyes, he raised a hand to forestall her angry words. “I apologize. That was uncalled for.”
She didn’t respond.
“Would it be enough to offer you security, the family you want and en
ough loving to chase away the coldest night?”
Her anger softened and he knew he’d won a temporary victory.
“Can we agree to disagree over the past?” He waited for her response, but she simply watched him. “We will be married.” Still, she didn’t respond. “How about a truce in the meantime? We have the rest of our lives to resolve this.”
After a long hesitation, she nodded, but the movement was tight, filled with her misgivings.
Unable to resist the uncertainty radiating from her, he crossed the room, then nudged her chin up until she was forced to look at him. The anguish reflected in her green eyes almost stopped his headlong pursuit. Everything would be all right Everything had to be all right. He would make it right. Just as he’d made everything else in his life happen. Hard work and sheer force of will had carried him far.
“We’ll be okay. I promise.” His voice was a ragged whisper.
He sealed his vow with a brush of his lips against hers. His reaction was swift, hot. Tonight, she would belong to him. He would finally be able to touch her, to relearn the ways of her body.
Her sigh feathered across his cheek. “I want to believe you.”
“Then do.” He cupped her cheek, wanting to offer more, but knowing he needed time to show her the life they could share.
Her lips turned up slightly. “You make it sound so easy.”
He wanted to kiss her again, wanted to taste the depths of her mouth. But he knew if he touched her lips now, he would make love to her right here, on the kitchen floor. The hours of darkness had been filled with images of her and he was hanging on to his control by a mere thread. He wanted better for this reunion, wanted the moment to be special.
“What’s easy is for you to spend my money.” He forced himself away from her but couldn’t resist taking her hand. Just a touch, that was all he needed to get him through the day. If he could hold her hand, he could assure himself that the night was drawing closer and let his need build.
He was anxious to get the day started, but she resisted when he tried to urge her forward. Her chin came up in a gesture he was becoming very familiar with. “I’ll buy my own clothes. I have money of my own.”
He almost grinned. He enjoyed a good fight, savored a challenge. Danielle offered both in generous doses. “No, you can pick them out. Although I reserve the right of final approval. And I get to pay for it.”
“Jace.”
“Danielle.” He mimicked her tone of voice, then softened. “Don’t feel like you have to fight me on everything. As your husband, I’ll expect to pay for whatever you need.” He opened the door, needing the cold blast of air to focus his thoughts on the mundane act of shopping. “Besides, you forget. I can afford it.”
Her eyes snapped with challenge and he knew the discussion wasn’t over yet. “And you think I can’t.” She pulled on her coat and started for the door, pride in every step.
He rubbed his chin, hating to disrupt her graceful retreat “Uh, Dani?”
She stopped, turned, glared at him.
“I, uh, never rescued your shoes from the mud.”
She groaned.
“I’d say they’re under about two feet of snow right now. Even if I could find them, they’d be ruined.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and he could almost hear her count to ten. “Well, I can’t very well go into town barefoot.”
He grinned, finding more humor in the situation than she did. “I’d offer you a pair of mine, but I don’t think they’d stay on your feet.”
She glared at her toes, then looked to him. “So what do you plan to do about it?”
“Me?” He thumbed his hat brim up and stared at her in surprise.
“It’s your fault.” A gleam entered her green eyes and her body relaxed slightly.
He’d forgotten this side of her-the playful imp who could tease and torment with equal skill.
She nodded, her lips pursed. “You carried me inside. It was your responsibility to take care of the shoes, too.”
“I see.” He considered the problem for a moment, tantalized with the possibilities. “Then I guess I’ll just have to carry you out.” With a quick stride, he was in front of her. Before she could do more than grasp his shoulders, he cradled her in his arms.
Exactly where she belonged.
“And do you plan to carry me into all the stores?”
“Just the first one. After that, everyone in town will know you belong to me.”
She bit her lip and the tension flowed back into her body.
Jace placed her on the front seat of his truck, then returned to pick up his suitcase and close the door. Anticipation curled through him. He halted, surveyed his land and allowed himself a smile. It had seemed like the impossible dream at times, but he was finally going to make all his plans happen-all their plans. Danielle had been a big part of weaving those fantasies so long ago. It had been her leaving that had driven him to succeed.
The drive into town was accomplished in silence. Jace focused his attention on the freshly plowed roads, trying to give Danielle some time to adjust to this next step in their relationship.
But each time she stirred, an image sifted through his thoughts, an image from the past, of Danielle when she had still loved him. Each gentle sigh, every rustle of clothing, brought back a memory. Her soft perfume wove through his senses, distracting him from what was important-which was getting his ring on her finger and binding her to him in every way possible.
After parking in front of a large department store, Jace went around to help Danielle out. When he reached inside the truck to scoop her up, she swatted his shoulder. “I can walk. Please don’t embarrass me, Jace.”
He leaned back against the door, studied the puddle of slush between her and the sidewalk, then the icy concrete, covered with mud and salt. “Darlin’, I don’t plan on throwing down my coat for you. And I don’t think your legs are long enough for that first jump.”
She hesitated, her gaze following the same path. He could see the exact moment when she decided a graceful exit was impossible. “Do you always have to be right?”
“Yes, ma’am. I sure do.” Before she could protest again, he swept her up. At her squeak of surprise, several pedestrians stopped and stared. Danielle tried to push away from him and he couldn’t resist dropping her just a few inches. When she had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, he started for the double glass doors.
As soon as her feet were warmly encased in sleek snow boots, she proceeded to show him how a true professional shopped. And he didn’t even get right of refusal on any of her outfits. Quick as a Wyoming blizzard, she would select several items from the rack, disappear into the dressing room and reappear with her selections. All that was left for him to do was pay the bills. A job he enjoyed almost as much.
But by the fourth store, he was becoming bored. It had never occurred to him that a woman would need so many different things. Waiting outside one more dressing room, he allowed his mind free rein.
Tonight.
Glancing at his watch, he counted the hours. He could satisfy all his desires, all his fantasies—tonight. Finally, he would sleep with her in his arms through the dark hours, waking up with the morning sun reflected on her tousled sleepiness so he could make love to her again.
No matter how hurt and angry he’d become over the years, that fantasy had never died. His need for her had never faded. It had only ripened with time until he was certain he would die for the wanting.
When she stepped out of the dressing room, he halted her with a hand on her arm. She turned, a half smile on her lips, all traces of what stood between them temporarily forgotten. This was how he wanted it to be. Every day, for the rest of their lives.
He curled his fingers into the silky hair at the nape of her neck, lightly massaging the soft skin. “Kiss me?”
He wanted her to come to him this time. He needed to know she was willing.
Her eyes took on a sly look, her lips curled upward, and she
laughed, soft and deep. The sound settled in his belly, igniting a slow burn of desire.
She raised a hand, lightly scratching a fingernail across his cheek. “Only if you say please, cowboy.”
“Please?” He held his breath when she inched closer, then hesitated as the blood thundered through his veins. “Pretty please?” He half expected her to pull away at the last second and laugh. But she surprised him. Shocked him, actually.
Her tongue peeked out to trace his lips and he leaned back against the wall, bracing his legs and tucking her close against his thighs. His mouth opened on a low groan and she met his tongue eagerly. Heat flooded through him and he lost all consciousness of where they were and what they had to overcome. Her fingers curled into his chest and she didn’t seem inclined to end their mating any time soon.
When she finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard. He would never make it until after the wedding. “Dani, my girl, you are dangerous.”
She grinned and pulled away. “Especially when I have your credit card.”
“I can think of a better way to spend the afternoon than shopping.”
“You said you could afford it.”
“Oh, I can. But you’re driving me crazy.” He pushed away from the wall. “Besides, I’m not used to all this concrete. My feet are howling. Let’s find a place to sit down for a while.”
Needing a breather, he led her to a small café where they ordered a light lunch.
While they waited for their food, Danielle searched through her purchases, making certain she hadn’t forgotten anything. “I have to stop at the drugstore for some toiletries and I think I’m done.”
He’d been with her all morning and hadn’t seen her select the one thing he’d wanted most for her today. “I’d like you to pick out a wedding dress.”
“That won’t be necessary, Jace. I’ll just wear one of my new outfits.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t see any dresses in those bags.”
“It seems a little impractical to do the June Cleaver thing on your ranch.”
“So you plan to wear pants to your own wedding?” Anger built inside him. He knew it was totally unreasonable, still he couldn’t help but sense that she wasn’t taking their relationship seriously. He didn’t want to simply play house. He wanted to build a lifetime with her.
The Cowboy Proposes... Marriage? Page 8
