"Is it?" He bent, brushed his lips over her bare shoulder. "I had something else in mind."
Her pulse skipped, then broke into a full run. It shocked her how much she wanted to run her hand over his broad chest, across the muscles of his shoulders. How much she wanted to release that knot holding the towel at his waist.
And wouldn't that amuse him, she thought bitterly. Another Hadley conquered, left humiliated and stripped of pride. Even if she did love him, even if there was a part of her that felt she deserved his contempt, she couldn't set herself up for that again. Couldn't give him that kind of power over her.
And at the same time, she would not deny him, either. She'd agreed to make love with him, and she'd honor that commitment.
"The maid was two doors down when I came in." She forced a casual tone, in her voice. "But I suppose there's time, if you like."
He stilled, then slowly straightened. "If I like?"
She glanced at her wristwatch, prayed her hand wouldn't shake. "We probably have ten, fifteen minutes tops. Is that enough for you?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously, and a muscle worked in his jaw. "Don't compare me to anything you might be used to, Julianna." She swallowed hard as he took hold of her shoulders and pulled her roughly against him. ' 'And I do remember last night. Maybe not everything, but enough to know that we started something that I intend to see through. Something that's going to take a hell of a lot longer than ten or fifteen minutes. It will be long and slow and no one's going to interrupt us. You can count on it."
Her head was still spinning as he released her, and the plate on the table rattled as she stumbled back.
"I'm late for a meeting." He turned and headed for the bedroom. "It might take a while, so don't wait up for me."
"Lucas." When he stopped at the doorway and looked over his shoulder at her, she somehow managed to find her voice. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I'm sure you can find something here at the hotel to keep you occupied," he said with a shrug. "Go out by the pool, spend some time in the beauty salon. Go shopping. I'm going to be busy for the next few days. If you need anything, call George down at the front desk and he'll take care of it."
Busy for the next few days? Call George at the front desk? She might not have entered into this marriage with any expectations, but she hadn't considered that he would simply abandon her, either. Even as her throat thickened with tears, her blood heated with anger. "You needn't concern yourself with me, Lucas. I'll manage just fine by myself."
He watched her for a moment, but his eyes were unreadable. "Worried I might run out on you, Julianna?"
"Annoyed that I might have to go look for you," she repeated his words to her earlier.
He smiled slowly. "I'll be back, Jule. That's the second thing you can count on. I already told you what the first is."
She remembered. He'd told her that they would make love. Long and slow, without interruption.
He disappeared into the bedroom, and she sagged back against the table, hating the shiver of anticipation that raced through her blood at the thought.
Staring at the bedroom door, she silently cursed him, then snatched up a piece of bacon from his plate and nibbled thoughtfully on it. As the idea came to her, she straightened, then smiled slowly. She'd find something to keep herself occupied, all right.
She'd give George a call right away and have him take care of it.
Lucas drove the nail into the porch rail with one solid whack and gave the four-by-four a good solid shake. Satisfied, he moved to the opposite end of the porch, slammed in two more three-inch nails, then stepped back to inspect his work in the dim light of the porch lamp.
Not bad. In fact, he noted with a smug smile, glancing over the entire front of the house, it was damn good.
It had been a long time since he'd actually put his own sweat and grit into, a project. His first venture into business almost ten years ago had been a rundown one-thousand-acre cattle ranch outside of Abilene. He'd been working the place for five months, three without pay, when the owner, bitter from a recent divorce and over his head in debt, walked away.
Considering the condition of the place, plus the lien Lucas recorded for back pay, the bank was happy to make a deal.
He'd enjoyed working the land by himself, enjoyed having something to call his own, like his father had with the Circle B before Hadley stole it from him. Lucas worked relentlessly that first year, rebuilt the house and barn from the foundation up and worked the stock, as well. Then, with a lucky jump in the price of beef and an unexpected offer from a neighboring ranch to buy the place at more money than he'd ever dreamed of making, Lucas went from cowboy to businessman overnight.
And he'd finally found what he'd been looking for: a way to make enough money to ruin Mason Hadley.
For good measure, Lucas grabbed another nail and pounded it into the railing. It had taken years, but determination mixed with an uncanny ability to recognize the potential in what usually appeared to be worthless land had paid off. Blackhawk Enterprises was born, along with several subsidiary companies either bought or started, all with different names, for the sole purpose of establishing a financial relationship with Mason Hadley.
Lucas might have set the stage, but in the end, Hadley's greed and his arrogance had been his ultimate undoing. The man had thought himself untouchable. Lucas had taken tremendous pleasure in proving him wrong.
But Julianna... Lucas stared blankly at the porch rail. Julianna had never been in his plans. She'd just... happened.
It still didn't seem possible that he'd actually married her five days ago. And because he'd been working round the clock with three crews to get the house ready to move into, he'd only seen her twice since the morning after the wedding. Both times she'd been asleep on the couch, with a book in "her lap. Almost as if she'd been waiting up for him.
Strange how the thought of her waiting for him brought a slight hitch to his chest. He knew she wasn't, of course, but it was a nice little fantasy, even if it was completely absurd. More than likely she'd stayed up reading a murder mystery hoping for a few pointers to hasten his demise.
But it was the other fantasies that kept him up long after his exhausted body hit the mattress in the second bedroom. The other fantasies that left his sheets torn up and damp with sweat.
He'd pushed her out of his mind several times these past few days, and instead focused on the sounds of the workmen around him, the buzz of saws and pounding of hammers. But she would slink right back in, and before he knew it he'd be swimming in those blue eyes of hers, picturing those long, sleek legs and her firm, creamy breasts, imagining how hot and tight and slick she would be when he finally slid into her, when he finally—
"You sleeping with your eyes open, Lucas? I've heard Indians can do that, but since you're only half-Indian, you should have one eye shut."
Lucas turned abruptly at the sound of Nick's annoying gibe. He was leaning against the front door-jamb, his jeans and white T-shirt covered with dust. "I'm thinking. Try it sometime, Santos. Somewhere in that poor excuse for a brain of yours you must have a thought."
Nick grinned with good humor, pulled off the handkerchief he'd tied around his head and wiped at his face with it. "I have lots of thoughts, Lucas. Want to hear them?"
"No." Lucas slipped the hammer back into his tool belt with all the speed and finesse of a gunslinger. "I really don't."
"Mostly they're questions." Nick stuffed the handkerchief into his back pocket. "Like how come you, being a newlywed and all, are working here from early morning till the middle of the night for the past five days? I mean, if I had a woman like Julianna waiting for me I sure as hell wouldn't be hanging around a bunch of sweaty guys, I'd be—"
"Shut up, Santos." Lucas unclipped the tool belt and threw it at Nick, who caught it smoothly with one hand. "If I'd have known your offer to help came with all this jabbering I'd have sent you and your motorcycle packing."
"Actually—" Nick tossed the tool belt ins
ide the house "—we were sort of thinking about hanging around for a while."
"Hanging around for a while? Excuse me." Lucas knocked at the side of his head with his palm. "I must have sawdust in my ear. I thought I heard you say you were hanging around for a while. Everyone knows that Nick Santos, motorcycle racer extraordinaire, never hangs around anywhere longer than the next race."
"I quit the circuit, Lucas."
Lucas stopped in the middle of brushing the dust from his jeans. "You what?"
"I quit. Last week." Nick ran a hand over the newly replaced porch railing. "Ten years was long enough. Enough money, enough traveling, enough everything."
Lucas wasn't sure what Nick meant by "everything," but for Nick to be serious longer than three sentences was a miracle unto itself. "You got a woman you're not telling me about, Nick?"
He grinned at that, cocked his head. "Just read the papers, Blackhawk. They'll fill you in on all the juicy details."
The subtle sarcasm wasn't lost on Lucas. He knew that Nick's reputation as a ladies' man was more hype than fact in the tabloids. They'd shown him on the arm of more than one beautiful model or actress. Lucas also knew the trouble that had cost Nick.
"You have plans?" Lucas asked.
"Just tossing a few ideas around. Thought I might do a little fishing up at the river, maybe find good old Roger Gerckee and beat him up for old time's sake."
"You'd be doing me a favor." Lucas took a step back from the house, assessed the blue paint with white trim as best he could in the light from the porch. He'd paid the painting crew double time for the past three days to finish by tonight. "Good old Roger just happens to be Hadley's lawyer."
"Hadley giving you trouble?"
"Just the standard threatening letters and counter-lawsuit, a couple of phone calls from Roger. I've got someone keeping tabs on Hadley. Who he sees, where he goes."
"Julianna?"
"He hasn't gone near her since the courthouse. If he does, he'll be taken care of." The tight edge in Lucas's voice had Nick raising his eyebrows. "So what's the little wife been doing while you're preparing her homecoming?"
Lucas hoped the lift of his shoulder was as casual as he intended it to be. "Whatever women do, I suppose. Shopping probably. She has the complete hotel staff at her disposal. What else could she possibly want?"
"Yeah. What else could she possibly want?"
The amusement in Nick's eyes annoyed Lucas, but he was too tired and too irritable to get into it with his friend right now. Besides, Nick's news was cause for celebration. It was only ten o'clock. They could have a beer, and he might even make it back up to the room tonight before Julianna fell asleep.
That thought had him reaching for his denim jacket and car keys. "Come on, Santos. Drinks are on me."
Nick was already on his motorcycle, helmet in hand. "Can't pass that one up. I should be three up on you by the time that slug of a car you're driving pulls into the parking lot."
Some things were sacred, Lucas thought, revving up his engine while Nick roared his bike to life. A man's car—a Ferrari, no less—definitely fell into that category. Nick skidded sideways, blowing dirt from his rear tires before heading for the main road.
Grinning, Lucas spun his wheels, spewing his own fair share of dirt, and took off after Nick. The last time they'd done this Lucas had been in a hay truck and Nick on a scooter. Times might have changed, their lives might have changed, but somewhere deep inside it felt good to know that just a little part of them was still the same.
Ian would have completed the picture, Lucas thought as he downshifted around a curve, but the
Irishman surfaced rarely, and always unexpectedly. Lucas had already left a message, but nothing more than a simple "call me." He couldn't wait for Killian Shawnessy's reaction to Lucas Blackhawk marrying Julianna Hadley.
His thoughts drifted to Julianna again, wondering what she was doing, what she was wearing, and precious seconds were lost to Nick's advantage. He was waving from the front entrance of the hotel, then disappeared inside as Lucas squealed into the driveway.
When Lucas joined him in the lounge, Nick was already gloating.
"Looks like you're ready for the station wagon, old boy. Or maybe one of those vans that holds the Little League team and baby carriers." Nick scanned the full bar for a cocktail waitress. "Whoa, now. Heart be still."
Lucas recognized Nick's tone. He'd spotted a woman and set his sights. Lucas already felt sorry for the unwitting female.
"Oh, darlin', turn around and let me see if your face matches that amazing body. Those legs should be illegal." Nick leaned back in his chair trying to get a better look. "You being married and all, I'm sure it wouldn't interest you, Blackhawk, but this here sweet little waitress can bring me drinks all night long."
It didn't interest him at The moment, he just wanted a quick beer and to get up to his room, but Lucas would eat the ashtray on the table before he'd admit that to Nick. He glanced over his shoulder, caught a glimpse of black high heels and incredible legs that never seemed to stop. Lucas hadn't chosen the short skirts for the waitresses himself, but he decided to give a raise to the man who had.
The woman bent at the waist, serving drinks to a table of men on the other side of the room. He started to turn away, but something, he couldn't say what, had him narrowing his eyes and staring harder. And then she straightened.
Son of a bitch.
Julianna.
He was too stunned to move, let alone react. Why the hell was Julianna—his wife—serving drinks in a bar? Still numb, he hadn't time to stop Nick from calling out as he waved a hand. She turned, headed their way with a tray in her hands. When Nick's mouth dropped open, Lucas felt his blood boil.
"What can I get you boys?" she asked sweetly.
She nearly spilled out of the top of her form-fitting waitress uniform. Lucas decided to fire the man who ordered such skimpy outfits. And he definitely decided to fire whoever it was who had put Julianna in one.
"Ah, I'll have a beer," Nick said with a slow grin.
She started to name a few different brands when Lucas finally found his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm working." She smiled, set a bowl on the table. "Nuts?"
Because he was working so hard not to cause a scene, he didn't tell her what he thought of her offer. "We'll discuss this up in the suite. Now."
"I don't get off until one," she said calmly. "Would you like a beer, too?"
He gritted his teeth when she leaned toward him, dangerously testing the fit of her top. "What I would like is for you to get yourself up to our room before I have to hurt that man ogling you." "Sorry," Nick mumbled.
Lucas scowled. "I meant the man two tables over."
"I told you, Lucas. My shift isn't over until one. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't make tips by standing around talking."
"You don't need to make any damn tips," Lucas ground out. "I own this place, remember?"
"And thank goodness for that," she said brightly. "I'm not exactly qualified for this, so it helped to throw your name around."
"You look qualified to me." Nick winked, but refrained from letting his eyes go where he wanted them to.
Lucas all but growled at Nick, then glared at his wife. "If you're doing this to annoy me, Julianna, you're doing a hell of a job."
"I'm not doing this to annoy you, Lucas. It's honest work. In spite of what you think of me, I'm not lazy. I've needed something to do, and for the past three nights the bar has been shorthanded." She smiled at a young couple and told them she'd be right with them. "I'll bring your beers in a minute. Right now, gentlemen, I've got an order up."
Three nights! She'd been serving drinks, half dressed, in a bar for the past three nights and he didn't even know? His fists tightened as he watched her walk away. He had one of two choices: throw her over his shoulder and can«y her up to the room or wait her out. He didn't like either one, but reason chose the latter.
"Well," Nick said, grinn
ing at Lucas. "I guess she doesn't like to shop."
"Shut up, Santos." It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Six
"You have exactly sixty seconds to get out of that bed or I'm coming in with you."
Julianna murmured a protest and burrowed deeper into the covers. The quiet, deep voice was simply part of the dream she'd been having, she decided. A dream that involved Lucas, a big bed and very little clothing. A dream she wasn't quite ready to give up.
"Forty-five seconds, Jule."
The familiar voice sounded so close. Beside her ear, not inside her head. She even felt the warm breath on her cheek, smelled the light scent of aftershave, something distinctly masculine. How real it all seemed, not like a dream at all. Which only made it even more pleasurable, she thought with a smile.
"Thirty seconds," came a low, sexy whisper.
Struggling to pull herself out of the haze of sleep, she slowly opened one eye.
And looked up into two very dark, very intense eyes.
Both eyes open now, she clutched at the blanket. The tank-style cotton nightie she had on covered her, but just barely. "Lucas, what are you doing?"
One corner of his mouth lifted, the glint in his eyes was hot and wicked. "Nothing. At least, not yet. You still have fifteen seconds."
She glanced at the bedside clock—7:00 a.m.? She'd been up until two. So had he, for that matter. He'd sat in the bar all night and glared at every man she'd brought a drink to.
Turning her back on him, she pulled the covers up higher, told herself that the fact he wasn't wearing a shirt and the top snap of his jeans was undone didn't affect her in the slightest. "If you think you can bully me into quitting my job, think again. ' '
"You don't have to quit."
She flopped back over and combed the hair away from her face with her fingers. "I don't?"
He stared blandly at her. "You're already fired."
Scowling, she tossed a pillow at him. "Go ahead and fire me. Glen Hanson, the manager at Tanner's Tavern already offered me a job. ' '
She had no intention of taking it, of course, but satisfied with the flash of dark fury in his eyes, Julianna kept her voice cool as she reached for a little verbal salt. "You and Niçk and Ian used to hang out there, didn't you? You know the place, with the pool tables and jukebox and dartboards? It hasn't changed much in ten years."
Secrets 01- Blackhawk’s Sweet Revenge Page 6
