In the Arms of the Rancher

by Joan Hohl

  Watching his lips move, Kate felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her stomach. And in that moment she was hungrier than she’d ever been in her adult life. Yet the last thing on her rattled mind was food.

  “Yes.” She tried to unobtrusively wet her parched lips. “Are you?”

  His eyes narrowing, he watched the slow movement of the tip of her tongue. “You have no idea,” he murmured, reaching out a hand to take hers.

  “W-where are we going?” Kate felt a flash of annoyance, not at Hawk, but at herself for the brief stutter again. Damn, she didn’t stutter. Never had, not even briefly.

  Hawk grinned. “Right here. Vic’s creating something special for us.”

  “Here? We’re staying here for dinner?” Kate had to laugh. “Why?”

  His brows drew together in a dark frown. “You don’t like Vic’s cooking?”

  “I love Vic’s cooking,” she protested. “It’s just, well, I thought you would want to…”

  “What I want, Kate,” he declared, “is for you to feel comfortable with me, and I figured you would here.” He smiled, then added, “With Vic to defend you.”

  “Right,” Vic drawled, leading them to the same corner table for two that Hawk had been given a few days before. “As if I could defend her against you. I’m a chef, not a warrior.”

  “Cute. You’re the one who works with knives.” Hawk shot Vic a wry look as he held a chair for Kate. “Wine?” he asked, folding his long body onto the chair opposite her.

  Pondering their odd exchange, Kate nodded. “Yes, thank you.” She glanced at Vic. “What do you recommend with the meal? White or red?”

  “White for you,” Vic said. “I think nothing too dry, nothing too sweet. You’re both at my mercy with the meal tonight.”

  Hawk smiled dryly. “Right. I’ll have the red. Room temperature.

  “You know each other very well, don’t you?” Kate said as Vic retreated to his kitchen.

  “Hmm.” Hawk nodded, taking a sip of his water. “We roomed together at college.”

  “Did you serve in the military?” Her question, seemingly coming out of nowhere, brought his eyebrows together in a brief frown.

  “Yeah, after college I served in the air force. What made you ask that?”

  Kate shrugged. “Vic called you a warrior, so I assumed that’s what he was referring to.”

  His brows smoothed as he gave a soft chuckle. “I flew a Black Hawk chopper, but that wasn’t what Vic was referring to,” he said. “The warrior reference was to my heritage. You see, my father is Scottish, but my mother was a full-blooded Apache Indian.”

  “Was?”

  “Yes, my mother died giving birth to my younger sister, Catriona.” His smile was bittersweet. “I was two and never got to know her. All I have of her are pictures of her lovely face.”

  “I’m sorry,” Kate said, at a loss for any other words of sympathy.

  The bitter tinge vanished, leaving only the sweet. “Kate, it was a long time ago. I’m thirty-six years old. Though I’d have loved to have gotten to know her, I’m over it.”

  Somehow Kate doubted his assurance, but she didn’t push. “Catriona. That’s different,” she said, changing the subject.

  “It’s Scottish for Catherine.”

  “What about your father?”

  “He, with help from my mother’s parents, raised me and Cat. After college I joined the air force. And after Cat graduated two years later, she moved to New York, and then Dad moved back to Scotland, where he owns several business holdings.” A server appeared and Hawk took his glass. “He and his second wife raise Irish wolfhounds.”

  “Oh,” Kate said. “They’re really big and kind of mean, aren’t they?”

  Hawk’s head was shaking before she finished. “They are big, but certainly not mean. I have one. His name’s Boyo, and he’s a pussycat.” He hesitated before clarifying. “Of course, he can get ferocious if I’m in any way threatened. The breed is very protective of his people.”

  Kate had to laugh. “His people?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He laughed with her. “Boyo believes I belong to him.”

  They grew quiet when their meal was served, enjoying the sumptuous dinner Vic had prepared for them.

  “Dessert? Coffee?” Hawk asked when they had both finished eating.

  Kate shook her head. “No thank you. I’m too full for even coffee.”

  “Good.” Hawk drew a quick breath. “It’s nice here, but…” He took another breath. “I have tickets for a show on the strip. Would you like to go?”

  Kate was quiet a moment, stilled by a little flicker inside, a combination of anxiety and expectation. As she had before, she drew a quick breath and made a quick decision. “Yes, thank you. I would.”

  Hawk shot a look at his watch, pushed back his chair and circled around the table to slide Kate’s chair back for her to rise.

  “We’d better leave. It’s after nine and the show starts at ten.” Hawk waved for their server. He said, “Check, please,” when the server hurried over.

  “No check,” the server said. “Vic said this meal is on the house.”

  “Tom, you tell Vic I said he’s a sweetie,” Kate said, smiling as the young man’s cheeks flushed.

  After quick goodbyes to Bella, they exited the restaurant.

  Three

  T aking Kate’s elbow, Hawk steered her to the first parking space in the parking lot. Noting the makeshift Reserved sign tied to the light pole in one corner of the lot, Kate raised an eyebrow and looked up at him.

  Hawk grinned at her. “It’s good to be the king,” he declared quoting from an old Mel Brooks movie.

  The car he guided her to was midsize. After she was seated, Kate watched, a slight smile on her lips, as he crammed his long body into the seat behind the wheel. Settled in, he slanted a look at her.

  “This king needs a bigger carriage.”

  “You do appear a bit cramped in that seat.”

  He rolled his eyes dramatically. “You have no idea.” He heaved a put-upon sigh. “At home I drive a big-boy truck, with a large seat and lots of legroom.”

  “This car is easier to fit into a parking space,” she said.

  “Granted, but…” He smiled at her, smugly, as he started the engine. “I don’t have to park it. I’m going valet.” He paused an instant before adding in a gotcha tone, “So there.”

  Kate lost it. Her laughter poured out of her with genuine amusement. She couldn’t recall the last time she had laughed so hard, with such ease. It was even better that Hawk was laughing right along with her.

  As promised, he drove them to the valet parking at one of the casino hotels. The show, by a comedian Kate had never heard of before, was in one of the smaller entertainment rooms. The room was already full when they were escorted to their table just ahead of the burst of applause as the comedian strolled onto the stage.

  The man wasn’t merely funny; he was hilarious…and he worked clean. He didn’t tell jokes. He told life, everyday things that just about every person in the room could relate to and appreciate.

  The few times Kate shifted a quick glance at Hawk during the show, she found him laughing, too. One time he winked at her.

  A simple wink, and yet it made Kate feel warm all over. Silly woman, she chided herself.

  Now, the show over, Kate moved to get up. Hawk stopped her with a shake of his head. “Want to go into the casino, play awhile before we leave?” he asked.

  Kate hesitated. Then, remembering this was one of Jeff’s favorite gambling sites, she shook her head. “Not tonight. I hurt from laughing,” she said, smiling at him to soften her refusal. “He was very funny.”

  “Yes, he was,” Hawk agreed, leading her outside. He handed over his parking ticket to the valet before adding, “And you’re a lousy liar.”

  Kate opened her mouth, but before she could utter a protest, he said, “No insult intended.”

  “What would you call that remark?” Kate didn’t attempt to c
onceal her annoyance.

  The valet area was crowded with people waiting for their vehicles. Hawk moved closer to her. “Kate,” he said, his voice low, private, “I’m not unconscious. I saw the flicker in your eyes when you uttered that lame excuse. For some reason of your own, you don’t want to go near that casino.” He raised one dark brow. “Care to tell me why?”

  He stood there, so close to Kate that she could smell his cologne and the pure masculine scent of him, and the tang of wine on his breath, teasing her lips. It played havoc with her nervous system.

  “No?” He smiled.

  She smiled, surrendering to his smile. “It’s a silly thing, I guess,” she said, sighing. “I didn’t want to go in there, because that is one of Jeff’s favorites.” She shrugged. “I prefer not to run into him.”

  The instant she finished speaking, as if she had conjured him up, Jeff’s practiced, cultured voice sent shivers of revulsion through her.

  “Well, Kate. Beautiful as ever,” he said, his voice and smile much too smooth. “Imagine seeing you here. I thought you didn’t like the casinos.” He acted as though Hawk wasn’t there.

  “You thought a lot of things, Jeff,” she returned, her voice as cool as she could make it. “Most of them wrong…no, all of them wrong.”

  Jeff’s pale blue eyes went cold; his smooth voice grew a jagged edge. “Not all of them.” A leer twisted his lips as he ran a quick look over her. “I wasn’t wrong about your response in the bed….”

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Hawk interjected in a menacing drawl, sliding one arm around Kate’s waist. “The car’s here, Kate.”

  Relief washed through her, but only for a moment. Jeff caught her by the arm, keeping her from moving away with Hawk. She stiffened, angry and embarrassed.

  Jeff glared up at Hawk. And up was the word, as Hawk had a good six inches on the man. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he demanded.

  “I don’t think who I am,” Hawk said. “I know who I am. And I don’t want to know you.” His drawl vanished, a soft warning taking its place. “Now, little man, take your hand off my lady.”

  “Little man! Your…your lady…” Jeff sputtered in anger. “You dare—”

  Hawk sighed. “I. Dare. Anything.” He enunciated very softly. “Now, back it up, buster, before I’m tempted to get real nasty.”

  To Kate’s near amazement, Jeff took a step back, looking not at all like a cock of the walk, which was how he regularly portrayed himself. She watched him stare narrow-eyed at them as Hawk helped her into the car. But he blinked and took another step back as Hawk turned to stare back at him.

  Although Kate couldn’t see Hawk’s face, she thought his expression must have looked meaner than hell, for turning on his heel, Jeff quickly strode back into the casino.

  Turning her head, Kate watched, expecting to see a man ready to explode with anger, as Hawk came around the car and slid behind the wheel. To her utter surprise, she saw the brightness of inner laughter in his eyes and a grin on his rugged face. Amusement danced in his voice.

  “I bluff at poker, too.”

  It started as a chuckle from Kate and developed into full laughter. “You’re something else,” she said, her laughter subsiding.

  “Oh, lady, you don’t know the half of it.” Hawk slid his glance from the wheel after starting the car to toss a smile at her.

  The tension of the previous minutes drained from Kate’s body, leaving her relaxed and comfortable. For the first time since throwing Jeff, cursing and arguing, out of her apartment, and her life, she felt at ease in the company of a man.

  Kate couldn’t quite decide if that was good or not. She knew too well that being at ease with a man was not the same as trusting one. At this point in time, she wasn’t sure she would ever again be able to trust a man, any man. It was sad, really, that one nasty male…She gave a mental shake. Forget him, she thought. He wasn’t worth the effort it cost her to dwell on him. Resting her head back, she allowed her thoughts to drift.

  They drove for several minutes, Kate content and mellow, before Hawk broke the mood.

  “Er…Kate, are we going to drive around aimlessly for the rest of the night, or are you going to tell me where you live?”

  Kate knew the mood was too good to last. “I parked my car at Vic’s,” she said, straightening from her near lounging position.

  “Um,” he murmured, making a turn at the next intersection. “We’re a little past his restaurant.”

  Kate gave him a startled look before glancing around at the area. She frowned when she didn’t recognize where they were. “How little?”

  A smile twitched the corners of his mouth. “Oh, only a couple miles or so,” he said. “You looked so comfortable, I hated to mention it. Fact is, I wasn’t certain you were awake.”

  She felt her cheeks grow warm and was glad for the dark interior of the car. “I wasn’t sleeping but I was drifting a bit. It must be the wine.”

  “All two glasses of it,” Hawk drawled. Then he sobered. “Were you thinking about that clown who was giving you a hard time?”

  “His name is Jeff,” she said, tossing off the name as if it didn’t matter, and it truly didn’t.

  “He grabbed your arm.” His voice had changed. It was now close to a growl, almost scary. “And if he tries something like that again, touches you again when you’re with me, his name will be sh—er—mud.”

  She had to chuckle at his quick word switch. “I do know the word, Hawk.”

  “I know. Everybody does.” He shrugged. “My father is a stickler for speaking politely in front of or to a lady. I feel the same way he does.”

  “That’s nice.” Kate said as he drove into the restaurant parking lot. He came to a stop next to her car in the otherwise empty lot.

  Unfastening the seat belt, she turned to face him, offering her hand for him to shake. “Thank you, Hawk, for a lovely evening.”

  Although he took her hand, he shook his head. “I’m following you home, Kate.”

  “But…”

  That was as far as he allowed her to get. “It’s late, so I’ll follow you and make sure you’re safely inside.” His voice was firm; he would brook no argument.

  Shaking her head, she sighed and didn’t argue. She got out of his car and into her own. True to his word, Hawk stayed on her tail, nearly tapping her bumper, until she pulled into the parking area of her apartment complex.

  Once again he parked next to her. He got out of his car as Kate stepped from hers.

  “I’ll see you to the door,” he told her.

  “Really, Hawk, it’s not necessary,” she protested. She might as well have saved her breath. Without replying, he strolled beside her to the entranceway.

  “Thanks again, Hawk,” she said once more offering her hand to him.

  “You’re welcome.” He took her hand and used it to gently draw her close to him. “Will I see you again?”

  “Yes,” was all Kate was capable of saying due to her suddenly dry throat.

  “Tomorrow evening?”

  She swallowed, hesitated before repeating, “Yes.”

  “Good.” A mixture of relief and satisfaction colored his voice. “I’ll pick you up here at seven-thirty, okay? We’ll do something fun.”

  She nodded, her heart skipping when he raised his hand to cradle her face, his thumb slowly stroking her cheek. “That creep was right about one thing, Kate,” he murmured, gently lifting her chin with the heel of his hand. “You are one very beautiful woman.”

  Now Kate’s heart wasn’t skipping; it was thundering.

  “Hawk…I…”

  “Shh,” he murmured, lowering his head to hers. “It’s all right. I won’t hurt you.” His breath whispered over her lips an instant before his mouth brushed over her mouth in what was not a kiss, but more a promise. “Good night, Kate.” He stepped back. “Now, go inside and lock up.”

  Barely breathing and not thinking at all, Kate went inside, unlocked the lobby door and ran up the stair
s to her second-floor apartment, completely forgetting the elevator.

  As Hawk slid behind the wheel of the rental, he glanced up at the building just as lights went on in the second-floor front apartment.

  Staring at the glow through the sheer curtains on the windows, Hawk propped his elbows on the steering wheel.

  Kate.

  Surprisingly, as his lips had barely touched her own, there was still a shimmering trace of her taste on his mouth, an unfamiliar twinge in his chest. He rather liked it. Smiling as a shiver raced up his spine, Hawk switched on the engine and drove back to the hotel he’d booked on the Vegas Strip.

  Not twenty minutes after leaving his car key with the valet, Hawk was in bed, lost in fantasies of Kate, her lithe, equally naked form close to his.

  Hawk woke suddenly, his skin chilled beneath a fine film of perspiration. He was cold, hot and frustrated. He hadn’t even realized he’d fallen asleep, only to suddenly awaken right at the most intense part of his fantasy dream. He was aching with need.

  Knowing he had to take drastic measures to cool the passion pouring through him, he dragged his body from the bed and headed for the bathroom.

  Damn, he hated cold showers.

  Kate stood at a side window, one hand flicking the curtain aside an inch or so. Gliding her tongue over her lips, she watched until she could no longer see the car.

  She could taste him.

  Ridiculous, Kate told herself and let the curtain fall back into place. That mere brush of his mouth over hers had been the furthest thing from a kiss she had ever experienced. She walked to the bedroom. Why in the world would she think she could taste him? Testing, she again slid her tongue along her bottom lip and snivelled.

  No, it wasn’t ridiculous; she really could taste him, and she liked the taste very much. Kate feared that a real deep kiss from Hawk could very likely be addictive…like rich dark chocolate.

  A real deep kiss from Hawk. She replayed the thought inside her head. Swallowing to moisten her suddenly parched throat, she began to undress, her hands fumbling with the simple routine. She mumbled a mild curse to herself.