by Renee Roszel
He grinned softly. “You don’t have to answer right now. We’ll just leave it and one day soon you can just come up to me and say yes. How’s that?”
She nodded, accepting the compromise. Every time she thought they had no future together, Thad did something so incredibly sweet. “Deal,” she agreed, taking his hand in hers.
Once she’d sent Thad on his way with a quick hug and a wave, she found herself heading for Dusty’s office, not sure why. Well, that wasn’t quite true. She was sure now that she could never accept Thad’s proposal as long as she reacted so strongly to Dusty. A little voice inside her was saying, The man owns a company and a ranch, so maybe he’s solid and steadfast underneath the fireworks and would love one woman forever. She almost laughed aloud as an ironic thought struck her. If he could love one woman, why would he choose her? He certainly had no desire to be around her. He’d made that clear by avoiding her all week.
As she neared his office, she saw a faint glow of light from within, and her heart rate increased. Was he there?
She stood at the doorway and looked into the dimly lit room. Perhaps someone had accidentally left a lamp on... Then she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Dusty was kneeling in the shadows in the far corner beside a low open cabinet. But what was he doing? Why hadn’t he turned on another light? He almost looked as if he was stealing from his own house.
He picked up something from the floor that had been hidden from view. In the murky light, Anna could see that it was wooden. A carving of one, two—no, three running horses.
Three running horses?
That description matched Windchaser—the piece of art work Steven had stolen.
What was going on? For some reason, Dusty had been lying to her. He was holding the carving Steven had supposedly taken. Why was it here? What had really happened to her brother?
She must have gasped, because Dusty quickly turned toward her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“WHAT’S GOING ON?” she cried, as she stumbled forward to grasp the back of a chair. “Why do you have the carving you said Steven stole?”
“He did steal it,” Dusty replied.
“Don’t play games! How did it get back here?”
“It was sent by messenger eight days ago.”
Her eyes widened. “Eight days! You let me worry for nothing for eight days?”
He straightened to his full height, his eyes never leaving hers. Placing the carving on the table beside him, he went to her. “Look, Anna, it’s a long story. I hoped you wouldn’t find out—”
“Where’s my brother?” she demanded, cutting him off. “Is he okay?”
Dusty reached for her hand, but she jerked away. “Don’t touch me, you...you liar. Now tell me—where’s my brother?”
He shook his head and in distraction combed his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know. I think he’s okay. Look, trust me—”
“Trust you!” She gave a choked laugh. “I come in here to find you hiding your precious carving, which you’ve had back for over a week. Why should I trust you?” She took a breath. “But tell me one thing—if it’s been here for a week, why are you just hiding it now?”
“It was delivered to my office. This was the first chance I’ve had to—”
“Oh, forget it! Why didn’t you say anything? Was it because you needed a stable manager, and good old Frosty wasn’t due for a few more days? That’s it, isn’t it! You let me worry myself sick about Steven going to jail, when all this time you only needed cheap help!” Her feeling of betrayal was strong, and she slapped him with the flat of her hand. The sound was loud in the quiet room, and her palm stung.
He touched the place she’d struck, but his grimace seemed to be caused by something else. “Damn.” His voice was heavy with regret. “For your own good, Anna, don’t push this.” Turning, he walked out of the office, leaving her in a state of shock.
Tears stinging her eyes, she whimpered brokenly, “And... and I thought I was— Oh, my mother was right.” She knew he couldn’t possibly hear her, but she continued, “You’re the kind of man who doesn’t care about who you use as long as you get what you want!” She headed for the door. “You’re not walking away from this!” she shouted, breaking into a run to catch up with him, though he was nowhere in sight. On a hunch, she dashed toward the stable. She found him in the yard throwing a saddle on Hazard. As he tightened the cinch, he spotted her. “Leave it be,” he warned, then leapt into the saddle and kicked the stallion into a gallop.
Furious, Anna saddled Freckle and headed after him. They galloped through a moon-drenched field, the horse’s hooves tearing at the sod as she rode recklessly into the woods.
Anna wasn’t sure Dusty had even gone into the woods, but she had to find him and vent her rage. And then she’d...what? Make him explain how she could have fallen in love with a man who could do such a lousy selfish thing?
Suddenly she was sobbing and she could no longer see. She reined Freckle in, then swung down and threw herself against the rough bark of a pine. She had no idea where she was, and she didn’t care. All she knew was that she’d almost allowed herself to ignore her mother’s good advice— almost. Luckily Dusty had proved himself to be unworthy in time to save her from making a tragic mistake. “I hate you, Dusty Dare!” she wailed into the pine-scented night. “I hate you with all my heart and—”
“I don’t blame you, sugar,” a deep, hushed voice said. There was a gentle touch at her wrist, and then she was in his arms. “Dammit, Anna. Why did you have to follow me?”
“I have to know why you lied,” she said fiercely, wishing her body wasn’t thrilling to his touch.
“Hell and damnation, I can’t.” Some silly corner of her brain took note of the fact that he’d lost his hat and his hair was mussed. She hated herself for having the desire to reach up and savor the feel of it. “Anna—” her name was a plea as he drew her close “—I know you hate me, but before you leave, I want to tell you something.”
Dizzy with feelings of longing and loathing, she pushed against his chest. “I don’t want to hear—”
“I love you,” he whispered, his voice a hoarse rasp. The husky vow washed over her, making her ache, and she could only stare, speechless as he went on, “I guess I’ve been too busy fighting or working to get very involved with any woman. Hell,” he conceded, “Brett did enough of that for both of us, but—” He stopped.
Anna pulled away slightly to better see his face. His expression was one of complete sincerity. She swallowed hard at the sight. “But what?” she asked weakly, feeling herself helplessly drawn by the power of his hypnotic eyes.
“But my lack of involvement hasn’t been because I can’t love a woman with all my heart. I just hadn’t found her.” He surveyed her caressingly. “When I met you nothing else seemed to matter—not that your brother was a thief or that you hated my guts or—” his lips twisted bitterly “—or even that you had that greenhorn boyfriend—fiancé, now, I suppose.” His voice roughened. “It made me mad to love a woman I shouldn’t love, couldn’t have, and I guess I took my anger out on you. I’m sorry.”
She was trembling, his nearness affecting her even after he’d lied to her. But he was saying he loved her! She felt such pain in her heart she feared she was being ripped in two. How could he say that? She couldn’t ever trust him, not after he’d used her.
With a strangled cry, she shoved him away, trying to escape. When she was unsuccessful, she lifted both fists in thwarted anger. She was aware that he tensed his body in preparation for her attack. Yet he didn’t let her go. He took her pummeling without flinching.
Defeat flooding through her, she pounded harder against his chest, crying brokenly, “You love me?” She laughed, hearing the hysteria there. “You couldn’t really love me and let me worry myself sick! Why...” Her voice broke and she swallowed in an effort to control it. “Why did you do it?”
“I— Dammit, I can’t tell you.”
She went still. He h
ad no reason. No excuse. She pushed against his chest. “Then, let me go!”
Frustration crossed his features, but he did as she’d insisted, releasing her so suddenly she stumbled backward. Awkwardly regaining her balance, she looked at him and saw bitterness on his face, but somehow she realized it wasn’t directed at her. And beyond that, she thought she could see pain and remorse. She was touched, but she still refused to soften.
Wanting only to escape, she floundered backward, bumping into Freckle. She swung into the saddle and paused for one last look at him—a handsome man standing in the moonlight. He would be in her heart for a very long time. “I won’t forget this, Mr. Dare. Just you remember—paybacks are hell!”
She rode back to the house and stabled Freckle, then jumped into her truck and sped away. She’d gone several miles before she realized how stupidly she was acting. Where did she think she was going? She had no place to go. Her family home was a pile of ashes, her uncle was in the hospital, and her brother—who knew where he was?
She slowed and pulled over to the gravel shoulder of the road. She considered her pitifully few options, and after a few moments, she pulled the truck back onto the road and headed toward Tulsa. Thad would put her up—and he’d probably even give her a very low rate. She licked her lips nervously. She’d made up her mind. Dusty’s cruel deceit had put everything in perspective. Now that she’d been burned by the fireworks, she harbored no more silly fantasies about him. She was officially Thad’s fiancée, although he didn’t know it yet.
She’d told Thad she’d give him her answer after Steven’s situation was settled. And all of a sudden it was. Not the way she would have liked perhaps. But now she could get on with her life.
After the twenty-minute drive, Anna parked in Elite’s garage. As she got off the garage elevator and crossed the plush jade carpeting to the marble-and-brass front desk, she thought about how she must look. For that matter, her beat-up truck didn’t bear any resemblance to the luxury cars parked all around it. But months ago Thad had given her an executive parking pass, so the security guard hadn’t asked any questions.
The green-vested night clerk looked up from his book and smiled. “May I help you, miss?” he asked, laying aside his book and giving her his undivided attention.
“Yes,” she said. “I was hoping to speak to Mr. Kelly, the manager?”
The clerk’s smile faltered. “I’m afraid he’s unavailable at this time.”
She nodded tiredly. “I understand. May I use a house phone, please? I’m a friend of his.”
The clerk nodded, indicating a bank of golden phones on a green marble table at one end of the reception area.
She dialed Thad’s room. The phone rang five, six, seven times. She was just about to hang up when it was answered. “Yeah? Um, yes?”
“Thad...” Anna whispered, surprised that her voice was failing her.
There was a pause, then, “Anna? Is that you?” He sounded more alert. “Something wrong? It isn’t your uncle, is it?”
“No, no,” she said, “Thad, I...I need a room for the night. I’ve left the ranch.”
“A room? We’re full up. Our new ‘Spend a Romantic Evening with Elite’ advertising campaign’s really been working. And the floor we’re refurbishing doesn’t have any furniture in place.” He paused, and Anna could tell he was trying to come up with an idea. “Uh, now don’t take this wrong, but you can stay in my suite. I’ve got that pullout couch in the living room.”
Anna sighed. “Oh, I don’t know. You’re wonderful to offer, but—”
“Look, sweetie, you know how I feel about you. But if you’re not ready for anything else, I’ll honor that. Please, use the couch.”
She smiled, grateful that there was at least one person she could count on. “Thanks, Thad. I don’t have any bags. I’m afraid I left in a hurry.”
“What did that guy do?” he demanded, suddenly suspicious. “Did he try something?”
“It wasn’t like that.” A bleakness washed over her. “Look, can I come on up?”
“Uh...sure.” He paused, then chuckled. “I guess I’m still woozy. When I take my sinus medicine, I sleep like the dead, and it takes me a while to get my brain working. I’ll throw on a robe and meet you at the elevator.” He hung up so fast she didn’t have time to tell him not to bother.
When the elevator arrived at the tenth floor, Thad was hustling down the hall, smoothing his flyaway hair as he came. He had on red-and-white-striped pajamas and a white seersucker robe that was flapping behind him.
This vulnerability was something she’d rarely seen. Thad was competent in his job and extremely good-natured, with a streak of insecurity he tried desperately to hide. At this minute, he looked so dear she felt a new tenderness build in her heart. Thad Kelly would never lie to her, never betray her trust. She decided that even if they never shared a burning passion, she could love him for his trustworthiness alone.
“Hi,” she said, smiling softly as he rushed to take her in his arms.
“Hi, yourself.” He kissed her, then stepped back to look at her. “So tell me. Why did you leave the ranch in the middle of the night?”
She shrugged, taking his arm. “We can talk about it tomorrow. You need to get your rest.”
“Whatever you want, sweetie.” When they reached his door, he gave her a hopeful grin. “Do you have anything in particular you want to say to me?”
She was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“If you don’t know, I guess I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
He opened the paneled door and let her precede him into his apartment. She’d been in the suite many times. It smelled of rosy potpourri and had the feel of an English country house. But Anna thought it was a bit overfurnished with the heavy antiques Thad had inherited from his grandmother. One of the living-room walls was covered with bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes about the Civil War, a passion of Thad’s. He could talk for hours on the subject—and often did. Along the top of the shelves, Thad’s collection of one-of-a-kind chess pieces—his other abiding passion—was displayed. She smiled mockingly, wondering where she’d fit into things—abiding passion-wise.
Suddenly she realized what Thad had wanted to know. He’d been hoping she was there to accept his marriage proposal. Her heart sank, and she began to twist her braid nervously as he showed her where the linens were kept, got her a T-shirt to sleep in and helped her unfold the bed. How could she have forgotten? He’d only proposed an hour and a half ago!
Thad gave her a peck on the cheek and headed to his bedroom and his vaporizer, leaving her to her privacy. Watching him go, seersucker fluttering in his wake, she felt a rush of shame at her lack of sensitivity. Sighing, she plopped down on the thin creaky mattress and began to unbutton her blouse. She supposed there’d been no real harm done. She was going to say yes, wasn’t she?
THE NIGHT WIND whistled through the trees, making the branches above Dusty’s head bob and clatter together like brittle bones. He lifted his head from his hand and peered at his watch. The luminous dial glowed in the faint moonlight. Four-ten in the morning. Exhaling heavily, he leaned wearily against the rough tree trunk. Anna had driven away four hours ago. Even this far from the house, he’d heard her truck’s echoing backfire. Thinking she needed the time to cool off, he’d resisted the urge to go after her. But he thought she’d have come back by now.
The first hour after she’d gone, he’d cursed himself for not making sure the office door was closed when he’d been hiding that carving. Downright jackass stupid of him! But how was he to know she’d show up at that time of night?
The second hour after she’d gone, he’d begun to worry. That truck of hers was a piece of junk and ready to fall apart. What if it had broken down, or she’d had an accident? What if she was lying in some muddy ditch? He forced himself to be calm. No, it was more likely she’d gone to a friend’s. Or maybe the hospital where her uncle was.
He vaulted to his feet, unable to stand the lack of
action one moment longer. He had to know if she was all right. Mounting Hazard, he headed for the stable at a full gallop. Once there he hurriedly took care of Hazard, then threw open the door to Anna’s office and grabbed the phone book out of her desk’s bottom drawer. Finding the hospital’s number and dialing, he was connected to the night desk on her uncle’s floor, but Anna wasn’t there.
With a white-knuckled grip on the receiver, he made a decision he hadn’t even wanted to think about. He’d call Thad Kelly. Murderous resentment coursing through his veins, he flipped to the K’s in the phone book and scanned the page for Thad’s number. Ah, there it was.
Dusty dialed. It was too soon to call the police, and as Anna’s fiancé, Thad had a right to know. Of course, there was always the chance that she was with him. As the phone began to ring, Dusty swallowed the bile that rose in his throat at the thought.
One ring, two—“Hello?” came a drowsy female voice.
Dusty’s body shuddered with a combination of fierce relief and blinding loss. She was okay, but she was with another man. He clenched his teeth to keep from howling in outrage. The woman he loved, loved someone else.
“Hello?” came the soft sleepy voice again. “Is anyone there?”
Dusty’s gut twisted as he pictured her. Long tawny hair splayed across the pillow—another man’s pillow. Without a word, he lowered the receiver into its cradle. “Goodbye, Anna,” he murmured.
Rising, he paced to the glass-paned door that led outside. Violence building inside him, he drew back a fist, wanting to smash every damned thing in the world.
He stopped himself. Ramming flesh and bone through glass would resolve nothing. With a curse, he placed his hands on the door frame and stared up at the night sky.
A skinny slice of moon hung low, but now the scudding clouds were gone and stars winked in the blackness. To him the crescent moon looked like a leering Cheshire cat. Probably the same cat-ate-the-canary grin Thad Kelly was wearing right now.
Worn-out from days of worry and nights without sleep, Dusty rested his forehead against the cool glass and closed his eyes. Unfortunately the only vision he managed to shut out was the smirking moon. Anna, with her damned beautiful hair and her damned beautiful eyes, was still there.
