by Ann Major
Her gaze darted past him to the house. Where was Daniel? She hoped, prayed he’d stay out of sight until she got rid of Luke.
“You’re looking good, Caitlyn,” Luke said, but his lips didn’t curve into the sexy smile that used to follow her name.
Not that she wanted it to.
“You, too,” she said reluctantly. The last thing she wanted to do was flatter him. “How is this possible?” she said, motioning to him, standing in her yard.
“What? The son of the county’s no-account drunk making good?”
Lisa’s sudden burst of flirtatious laughter was awkward. “Don’t run yourself down. You’ve come a long way since then, Luke. You never were anything like Bubba.”
“Thanks.”
“Caitlyn’s told me how rich your honorary father is! And how rich you are!” She moistened her lips and glanced at him slyly through her long, dark eyelashes.
Luke looked away.
Caitlyn winced. Her friend’s excessive interest in Luke bothered her. As did her words.
She remembered how Luke had once had a habit of making self-deprecating remarks. People laughed, as he’d intended, but she’d known his jokes had covered soul-deep shame for having Bubba as a father. Luke had always wanted to be more than he’d been. Well, now he was rich and powerful, but was he any happier?
Quickly she reminded herself that his happiness wasn’t her problem. He’d jilted her and moved on to better things, more beautiful women. He’d probably never hungered for her—as she’d hungered for him.
Or had he? He did seem as keenly aware of her as she was of him, which was hatefully gratifying.
As Lisa leaned closer to him, Caitlyn insinuated herself between them. “So, you really are Raffi Bin Najjar? I did some research, but couldn’t find much.”
Luke pushed away from the railing and stood taller. He’d filled out, but on him, the extra weight looked good. She was sure he was made of hot, solid muscle. The thought of touching him now made her own skin heat.
“I pay people to remove stuff I don’t want on the web,” Luke said.
“You can do that?”
“Most of the time. I’m not a movie star, so I’m not hounded by the paparazzi unless I’m out with somebody famous.”
“Like your supermodel girlfriends?”
His mouth twisted. “Jealous?”
“Of course not! But you should have told me who you were, you know.”
“Why? I’m here as a favor to Hassan. Not because I want to make your life easier. For some reason, he’s become fascinated by you and your affairs.”
“He’s been extremely helpful.”
“Yes, and I want to know why. I couldn’t find out if I’d tipped you off.”
“He told me you once lived here, but, of course, since I didn’t know who you really were, I thought nothing of it.”
“I’m as curious about his motivations as you are. Did you two talk about me the night you went to dinner in France?”
“Not much.”
“Did he tell you he invited me to come that night?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know who you were, so I didn’t pursue it.”
“I watched you through binoculars when you were working with Sahara and decided to bow out.”
So, Luke had been in Deauville, too, and had deliberately rejected her. Again.
This whole situation felt like a setup. She remembered Hassan’s comments at Keeneland about the color of Daniel’s eyes. She remembered Hassan asking her about Daniel over dinner in Deauville. When he’d asked questions about her son, she’d thought he was merely being polite. She’d been so proud of Daniel. She’d talked way too much about him, given away too much. She’d shown Hassan pictures, and he’d stared at them for a long time, even asking if he could keep one.
Had Hassan figured out who Daniel’s father was? As one of the world’s richest men, he could probably find out anything he wanted to know. Of course he would be curious about his protégé’s past. Had he sent Luke here to discover Daniel?
Maybe this reunion could have been avoided if she’d been more clever. But no, she’d taken Hassan’s actions at face value. He’d written her a note after Keeneland, and fool that she’d been, she’d felt flattered that such a man had remembered her name. When he’d called and asked her to help with Sahara, she’d been flattered again. And she’d needed the money too badly to question his motives. Then, once she was in France, she’d been too impressed by the glamour of his château and stables to think rationally.
“We stuck to small talk mostly,” she said now, without mentioning their conservation about Daniel.
“But after taking you to dinner, he bought your mortgage. Anything happen…after dinner?” Luke’s hot gaze slid over her slowly, causing her nerves to sizzle. Did he think she was easy because she’d been easy with him?
“Don’t you dare insinuate that your…‘father’ and I had an affair, because we didn’t. He was nice to me. That’s all.”
The intensity of Luke’s gaze unnerved her. “Half a million dollars nice?”
“During dinner, I told him about my ranch. We got into finances, and I was frank about my problems. I was afraid I was about to lose the ranch. He said he appreciated what I had done for Sahara and that he wanted to help me. He stunned me by saying he’d buy the mortgage and help me get back onto my feet.”
“That was all there was to it? Hassan doesn’t make a habit of befriending people and rescuing them.”
“He calls you his son!”
“I saved his kid’s life. Took a bullet, too. You work with Sahara an hour or two—and he buys your mortgage? I don’t get it.”
She hadn’t, either—although she now had a few suspicions.
“I needed the money, so I took what he offered. Wouldn’t anybody in my position have done the same thing? Didn’t you?”
“He taught me a lot when I went to work for him,” Luke agreed. “He opened a lot of doors.”
“I’ll say. Those doors must have been made of solid gold. Five years later you’re a billionaire.”
Ramblin’ Man walked over to the trailer and stuck his nose inside. She noted his behavior, but couldn’t take any satisfaction in his progress, so long as Luke was here.
“It’s true. I owe him everything. And I think the only reason Hassan helped you was because of me,” Luke said.
“You? I don’t get it.”
“Somehow he must have figured out we’d been involved. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for family, and if you claimed some tie to me…”
“But I didn’t.”
She again remembered Hassan’s comments about Daniel’s eyes and she felt afraid. Still, with an air of bravado, she said, “Why don’t you ask him why he helped me?”
“I did ask him. He was evasive. So, I came here to satisfy my curiosity, and because Hassan forced the issue. The fact is, this ranch is the last place I’d willingly return to. Just as you are the last person I’d help, if I had a choice. But Hassan wants to help you, and he asked me to figure out how to do it, so here we are—stuck with each other.”
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“And tell Hassan to keep bailing you out? No, I’m going to get to the bottom of this. I’m here to protect Hassan.”
His narrowed green eyes pierced her. His sharp words stung. She was the last person he’d help, if he had a choice.
He was angry. Why? He’d betrayed her family, jilted her and left her pregnant, with unattractive options, while he’d reinvented himself as this arrogant, world-class businessman. What did he have to be mad about? Unless he knew about Daniel…which he didn’t. At least, not yet.
Again her gaze strayed to the house, searching for Daniel.
Don’t panic. Be polite. Just send him on his way—fast. How hard could it be to get rid of a man who didn’t want to be here?
So much for her miracle. She was in worse trouble than before.
Caitlyn turned to Lisa. “Look, I need to talk to L
uke. In private. You can work with Ramblin’ Man on your own until I get back. Do a little groundwork…like I showed you before he put his foot into the trailer.”
“Okay,” Lisa said reluctantly, glancing at Luke.
“Follow me,” Caitlyn said curtly as she unlatched a gate and headed out of the round pen. She was tired of Lisa hanging on to their every word, and there was the added danger that Lisa might blurt out something about Daniel.
Luke nodded casually to Lisa before loping after Caitlyn. “Look, if you need to get her stallion in the trailer before we talk, go ahead. I have a report from one of my CEOs that I need to read. Our meeting can wait a half hour. Lisa told me about the bees.”
He’d had time for a private chitchat with Lisa before Caitlyn had seen him. Her sudden burst of jealousy infuriated her.
Caitlyn stopped in the shadow of the barn and whirled to face him. “I’m canceling our meeting.”
“The hell you are. I flew all the way from London.”
“I don’t care if you flew in from another galaxy. You had no right to come here under false pretenses.”
“I promised Hassan I’d figure out a solution to your problems.”
“I don’t want your help. You’re too late, Luke Kilgore. Six years too late. I’ve made it this long without you. I can keep on making it without you.”
His green eyes flamed with surprise, and fresh suspicion. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
Her hand flew to her lips and she took a step backward. She’d almost said too much. Maybe she had said too much. Notching her chin higher, she held her ground. “Nothing,” she said. “I want you to leave! Now! You haven’t been welcome here for a very long time.”
“Is that so?” He glanced upward to the barn. “I remember a time when things were very different between us.”
She remembered, too. They’d made wild, sweet, un-forgettable love in the hayloft. Ever since, he’d haunted her dreams. Even after he’d abandoned her, he’d cast a long shadow over her marriage.
“When you were a teenager, you followed me everywhere. I couldn’t load a bale of hay without finding you watching me,” he said. “You damn near threw yourself at me.”
“I was a young, stupid fool!” she cried, hating that she’d once made no secret of how intensely she’d felt about him.
“I was the fool. Hell, maybe I still am.” He grabbed her by the waist, pulled her close. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll figure out why Hassan really sent me here. I thought he wanted me to marry the woman I’m dating, Teresa. Then suddenly he sends me here. Why?”
She jerked free of his grip because she couldn’t concentrate when in his arms. “I thought he sent you to solve my money problems.”
“There’s another reason. I’m sure of it. You made him think we’re still connected.”
She shook her head in denial. “I didn’t.” Frantic to distract Luke, she said, “Teresa? Is she another of your gorgeous supermodels?”
“No. A countess.”
In spite of the fact that his love life was no concern of hers, Caitlyn was suddenly crushingly aware of how plain and unappealing she must seem in her dusty jeans. He’d become a mega-success while she was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Only by biting her tongue until she tasted the coppery flavor of blood was she able to remain silent. Too bad that the minute she quit biting it, she lost the battle to prove she could behave like a lady.
“If she’s so perfect, you’d be a fool not to propose to her!”
“She’s a little young. Nineteen. I was actually considering asking her to marry me, when Hassan started in on me about coming here. Ever since he met you at Keeneland, he’s asked questions about my life in Texas. He won’t say why, but I think he’s decided I’m still hung up on you. Well, I’m not! I don’t believe in rehashing or whining about the past, and I’ll do whatever it takes to convince him—even work with you on your finances.”
She caught a whiff of his musky scent mingling with minty cologne, and her feminine hormones flared. “So marry your precious Teresa and prove you and I are ancient history!”
His eyes slid over her. “You don’t look much like ancient history. You look as sassy as ever. So, no man’s tamed you yet? Not even your husband?”
“Leave him out of this! He’s dead, you know.”
“I’m sorry.” There was genuine regret in his deep tone. “This is a big place. In the middle of nowhere. It must get lonely out here.”
Unimaginably lonely, especially at night, when the wind blew and the eaves groaned and the coyotes howled as she lay in the dark, her head spinning with money worries.
She’d lain awake, alone, for too long. But she had a ranch to run, son to raise, hence little time for fun.
Too aware of the hunger that sparked in Luke’s green eyes and her own vulnerability, she took a step backward.
When he reached out and took her by the hand, she fought to pull it free. He held on tight, lifting her palm and inspecting it closely.
“You’ve been working hard. Too hard.” The sympathy in his voice surprised her and temporarily lessened her anger. Without thinking, she quit tugging and leaned closer to him.
What was she doing? Softening toward him? She should fight him harder, yank her hand free, but her emotions were escalating too fast to control. His tall, powerful body and his understanding intoxicated her. She’d done without a man’s passion for too long. Done without him. If only she’d had an inkling she’d see him today, she could have steeled herself.
Instead of trying to run, she froze. His beautiful green eyes—eyes she had so adored—stared straight into hers, igniting her soul, burning away the years and the hurt and the hatred, and melting her resistance.
He lifted her callused palm to his lips and kissed it. Only then did she jerk her hand from his. “You probably prefer women with soft hands.”
“I thought I did. These days I don’t meet many women who work outside with animals the way you do. When I left Texas, I dated lots of women. Until I saw you working with Ramblin’ Man, I thought I’d put you totally behind me.
“You were so good with him. I respect that. You looked so beautiful and wild. I wish I’d come back, at least once, to check on you. I suddenly realized I never…said goodbye.”
“No…you didn’t.” She caught herself. “This isn’t happening,” she whispered, feeling shattered by his admission, by the sweetness of his kiss on her poor battered hand.
“Something sure as hell is,” he muttered, sounding angry and lost. “I should have stood my ground and stayed in London.”
“You could always just go.”
“It’s too late now. The damage is done.” His eyes devoured hers. He stared straight into her soul, which had always belonged only to him. “I’ve seen you. I’ve touched you. And now I’m curious…about a lot of things.”
She didn’t understand the stillness that possessed her, held her. Was she in a trance? Clasped tightly against his tall, muscular body, his heat flooding her, she could barely think, barely breathe.
It was as if she were in a dream, as if she was again caught in the vortex of the youthful passion that had nearly destroyed her. For years she’d told herself she’d do it differently if she was ever faced with such temptation again.
Now, here he was.
Time to smarten up, Caitlyn.
But she lifted her head, parted her lips invitingly. Her nipples tightened into pert berries, throbbing where they brushed his shirt and felt his heat. Slowly he lowered his mouth to hers, nibbling her top lip as he’d done in the past, sucking on it, tasting it. Then she melted against him.
“Oh, God,” he muttered.
Instantly, nerves tingled in her tummy. Where he was concerned, she’d always been easy. Why did he have to make her feel so good, so fast?
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck, threaded her fingers in his silky hair, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him right back. He was simply too delicious to resist.
“I’m going to hate you for this,” she whispered, her voice thick. “Most of all, I’m going to hate me.”
“I hear you, sweetheart.”
Then his tongue invaded her mouth, and sweet, urgent needs made her arch her body into his hardness. Like a mare showing heat, excitement blazed through her. She ached with needs she’d never felt for any other man, not even her husband.
She knew what she was doing was wrong. Luke had hurt her, rejected her, hurt Daniel without even knowing Daniel existed. She hated him for all the lost years since he’d left.
And yet there were other emotions alongside the hate. Kissing him now was like coming home after living for too many years with strangers. She couldn’t get enough. She wanted him to tear off her jeans, throw her over his shoulder and carry her into the barn. She wanted to open her legs and lie down in the hay with him again.
She wanted too much. She always had.
For another long second she was alone in the universe with him. Then Ramblin’ Man exploded in the trailer and Lisa yelled.
As if he suddenly realized where he was and what he was doing, Luke’s hands fell away. He jumped free of her with an abruptness that startled her.
Distantly, she heard Lisa soothing Ramblin’ Man in the round pen.
Luke’s eyes hardened, and he cursed low under his breath.
In a bewildered daze, she stared at him. More than anything, she had wanted to stay in his arms, to cling to his strength, to enjoy feeling like a woman for the first time in years.
But that was impossible now.
“Take your hands off me! Let me go!” Caitlyn whispered needlessly. The humiliating truth was that Luke had already moved away and was no longer touching her.
He was silent for what seemed an eternity.
What was he thinking? Did he have demons she knew nothing about?
“You kiss like a woman who hasn’t had any in six years,” he growled, glaring at her.
She stared down at the scuffed toe of her roper boots. As always, he was uncannily perceptive. The last thing she wanted him to suspect was how she’d longed for him all through the lonely years of her marriage.
“If you want it that bad, we’d better go inside,” he said. “Or do you still prefer the loft? Frankly, it doesn’t matter to me. All I want is to get you out of my system—permanently.”
