Lady Sundown (#1 of the Danner Quartet)

by Nancy Bush

  “What lie could I give her?” Lexie wanted to know.

  “How about one of the wheels broke down and it took hours to replace?”

  “You could’ve walked me home in the meantime.”

  “I could have, but I wouldn’t.”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Lexie demanded. “You’re supposed to be my brother and, as such, would walk me home.”

  “Supposed to be?” One of his brows rose in mockery.

  “Well, you are my brother,” she admitted hastily, flustered. “I think of you as my brother, anyway.” This was a patent lie. At his silence, she said hesitantly, “Don’t you think of me as your sister?”

  “Not really.”

  Tremaine had long since given up fighting his attraction to Lexie, and in the present circumstances he couldn’t see any reason not to let his feelings be known. Her eyes widened like a scared rabbit as he pulled her back to his hard, enveloping warmth.

  He didn’t give her a chance to protest. He held her face captive between his strong palms and kissed her until she was too bemused to do more than stare at him through desire-hazed eyes.

  Flushed, she returned his kisses unthinkingly. She didn’t care that this was Tremaine. She just wanted the feeling to go on and on.

  “Lexie…” he muttered thickly. “Lexie…”

  She was powerless against his passion. She wound her arms around his neck and didn’t object when he practically hauled her onto his lap. Her legs wide. She gasped at the feel of him at her most vulnerable spot. His groan of need against her mouth and his tongue thrusting in and out between her lips left her mindless with wanting.

  Tremaine had planned to keep himself tightly leashed, but he hadn’t expected her to be so willing. He’d only wanted to kiss her. Her fiery response coupled with the feel of sweet, trembling thighs against his manhood was his undoing. Self-control vanished. His hand crept beneath her skirt to stroke the sweetest part of her and Lexie whimpered in surprise and need.

  “Tremaine!”

  “Shhh.” He smothered her cries with his mouth. She struggled until he ceased caressing her. But it was a short respite. Hands at her waist, he settled her firmly over his hips, holding her captive.

  Lexie tore her mouth free. “I can’t do this! We’re in — a buggy. It’s not—”

  “Lex.”

  His sober tone stopped her protestations and she looked at him clearly, both horrified and thrilled by the raging passion in those blue eyes. “I want you,” he said. “And you want me.”

  If she’d had time to think, she would have come up with a lie. But he was right. She did want him. And it was such a tremendous surprise that she was too stunned to do more than submit when his fingers slid into her hair, his mouth plundering hers once more.

  Her hands slipped over his shoulders and beneath his jacket. She was on fire. She wanted all of him. No matter that this was Tremaine. She wanted him!

  The storm of kisses he rained on her face and neck had her arching backward, offering him the soft white arc of her throat. “Oh, Lex,” he groaned, burying his face into her breasts.

  “Do you love me?” she asked breathlessly, naïvely.

  He froze for half a beat. It was more answer than Lexie had expected. She pulled back, staring at him in a new way.

  “Do you love me?” she asked again in a devastated voice.

  Tremaine hardly knew how to answer. He didn’t really believe in love — not the kind she meant. Every woman he’d ever met used the term too loosely. Even Eliza had married his father out of need. To Tremaine’s way of thinking, love was vastly overrated. He was formulating a limp response when Lexie shoved herself away from him, scuttling to the far side of the buggy, her chest heaving with emotion.

  “I want you,” Tremaine tried to explain. “I’ve wanted you a long time, but you were too young and you didn’t know we weren’t related. And then there was Jace.”

  “Who loves me,” Lexie spat. “Jace loves me. Take me back to school, Tremaine.”

  Tremaine would have dearly loved to shatter all her romantic illusions concerning Garrett, but she was too upset already. “I’m not taking you back until you listen to me,” he bit out with mounting impatience.

  “Then don’t take me back! I’ll walk!”

  She would have leapt from the buggy if he hadn’t caught her arm. Her palm swung around but he captured it. Holding her prisoner, he glared into her stormy green eyes. “I’ll take you home, but nothing’s changed, Lex. I want you, and you want me.”

  “I don’t want any man who doesn’t love me.”

  Her eyes were over bright and Tremaine’s heart wrenched. He slowly let her go, and she pulled in on herself, tucking her arms around her waist. He’d made an error. He’d come on too strong. Damn it all to hell, this wasn’t what he’d intended!

  Lexie was just anxious to put everything back the way it had been. She was frightened, more by herself than by him. “Can we pretend it didn’t happen? Please, Tremaine. I just want to forget it.”

  His brow lifted. This was hardly a solution, but he could tell by her white face it was what she needed to hear. Inclining his head, he turned the black stallion toward Miss Everly’s School.

  The rest of the trip passed by in a rush of cold wind as the horse pulled them down the cobbled streets. Lexie didn’t look at Tremaine. It was late morning, she realized sinkingly, seeing the slanting rays of a watery sun. She should have been back hours ago.

  At the door to Miss Everly’s school, Tremaine helped her down. His warm fingers enclosed hers for the briefest of moments, but Lexie yanked back as if he’d burned her. She could feel their lingering heat long after he released her.

  “You can blame being tardy on me,” he said, his breath coming out in puffs of smoke.

  “I will. I shall,” Lexie emphasized. “Since it is your fault.”

  The door opened on the first knock and Hildegarde stood in the entryway, glaring daggers at both Lexie and Tremaine. She seemed to want to deny him entry, but Tremaine wasn’t so easily put off. He grinned at her disarmingly and simply pushed his way inside.

  In the foyer, Lexie regarded him apprehensively and Tremaine sighed. “I’m going home to change, then I’m heading back to the hospital,” he said. “I’ll check on your friend.”

  She nodded stiffly. “Let me know as soon as I can see her.”

  “I shall,” he said with a straight face, then winked at the outraged Hildegarde on his way out. Lexie shuddered, avoided Hildegarde’s suspicious stare, then ran up the stairs to her room.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  As it turned out, Lexie had next to no explaining to do. Everyone thought she’d been waiting outside Ella’s room at the hospital. Even Miss Everly assumed she’d stayed to be near her friend, and Lexie felt a bit of a fraud. She answered guarded questions about Ella’s condition, knowing no more than she had earlier this morning. But no one pressed too deeply for answers. In fact, to Lexie’s annoyance, most of the girls were more concerned with an entirely different topic — Tremaine.

  They’d seen him gallantly save Ella last night and, from their windows, return Lexie to school late this morning. It was bad enough they were all swooning over Harrison, but now adding Tremaine to the heap made Lexie grind her teeth in frustration. Not that she really cared, she reminded herself. Tremaine was off limits as far as she was concerned. But she was tired of all the girlish sighs and dreamy looks. It was enough to make one ill.

  At supper time, while they sat at the long oak dining table, the downstairs maid delivered the message that Widow Maker, the black stallion Lexie had liberated from the stables, had been returned.

  Lexie fastened her eyes on her bowl of soup and ate with unusual absorption. “Thank you, Kate,” Miss Everly said in a repressive voice to the maid.

  “There was also a message for Miss Danner,” Kate added, walking down the table and placing an envelope to the side of Lexie’s plate.

  Lexie’s heart started to pound. Her name was scrawled
in Tremaine’s bold hand across the face of the envelope. She felt Miss Everly’s silent censure and the avid curiosity of her schoolmates.

  “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” Celeste Monteith demanded with a malicious smile.

  “It’s from Tremaine, my — brother,” Lexie choked out. “I’m sure it’s about Ella.”

  But was she? Her face flamed at the words that might be written. Tremaine wouldn’t dare send her something that would scandalize her, would he?

  “By all means open it, Lexington,” said Miss Everly.

  Lexie opened the envelope with slow fingers. She drew out the message, quaking inside, then was relieved and slightly disappointed to read aloud, “You can come visit your friend this evening. I’ve told the staff at the hospital to expect you.”

  “This is the brother who brought you home today?” Celeste asked casually, carefully spooning her soup.

  “Yes.”

  “Would it be all right if we all went to see Ella this evening?” Celeste asked Miss Everly with just the right amount of concern tinging her soft voice. “Last night, when Dr. Danner carried her out of here, it was shatteringly worrisome.”

  Shatteringly worrisome? Lexie’s eyes were chips of green ice. Celeste didn’t give a damn about Ella. In truth she found Ella loathsome and crude, and Lexie jerked her attention from Celeste’s soft, ethereal beauty to Miss Everly’s self-righteous face.

  “Well, I’m afraid not everyone can march down to the hospital, Celeste. Since Lexington’s brother sent for her, she may visit Ella.” She turned to Lexie. “Please don’t be late this evening.”

  Lexie could almost feel the sharp darts of fury shooting from Celeste’s eyes. “Of course,”she replied innocently.

  She nearly burst out laughing as one of the livery groomsman drove her to the hospital. Staring out the side of the carriage at the passing buildings, she gleefully remembered Celeste’s dark glower and the wrathful, vengeful looks she’d tossed Lexie’s way. Hah! For once Celeste had been thwarted in her plans. It was reason enough to celebrate.

  Lexie hurried up the steps to the hospital. “I’m Lexington Danner,” she told the receptionist who nodded her recognition.

  “Dr. Danner told us to expect you,” she said, smiling. “Miss Burnham’s room is straight down this hall to the right. Number one-thirty-nine.”

  “Thank you.” Lexie paused a moment, then asked, “Is Dr. Danner here?”

  She checked her records. “I’m sorry. He’s left for the day.”

  A wave of relief crashed over her. She didn’t want to see him again. Ever. She hated him. He’d swamped her senses with his kisses, then had the arrogance to act as if nothing had changed. Well, damn him anyway. Celeste could have him.

  Ella was propped up against several pillows, her face nearly as white as the stiff sheets surrounding her. She smiled wanly at Lexie. “Well, I did it,” she said, heaving a sigh.

  “Did what?” Lexie pulled up a chair.

  “Found a way to miss the only good event that miserable school hosts. I could just die when I think about all of you at the Winter Ball tomorrow night!”

  The easy tears of the new convalescent spilled down Ella’s cheeks, and Lexie felt a pang of sorrow for her. “It’s going to be boring and dull,” Lexie predicted, squeezing her fingers.

  “No, it’s not. Did you know some of the doctors here have been invited? The one who checked on me this afternoon is going.”

  Since most of the wealthy and prestigious families in Portland were annually sent invitations, Lexie wasn’t surprised. Miss Everly’s Winter Ball was a tradition. Some might scoff at the school’s pretensions, but it was still an honor to receive the guilt-edged invitations. No doubt several of the doctors at Willamette Infirmary were from notable families.

  “Is this doctor young and handsome?” Lexie asked with a smile, seeking to change the subject.

  “He’s young. But not as handsome as your brother. Brothers,” Ella amended, amused by the tightening of her friend’s lips. “Now what did I say?”

  “Nothing. I just heard over and over again about my brothers until I could scream! Celeste’s followed me around like a bad smell ever since she clapped eyes on Tremaine, and it makes me sick!”

  Faint color invaded Ella’s cheeks and her eyes sparkled a bit. “Maybe the two of you could become friends now.”

  Lexie’s answer was a very unladylike epithet that actually provoked a chuckle from the wan figure in the bed.

  It wasn’t long before Lexie realized she was tiring Ella, so with an excuse that she had to get back, she bade her good night and retraced her footsteps down the clean, shining hallway.

  There was no accounting for the disappointment she felt. It wasn’t like she wanted to see Tremaine or anything. Maybe it was realizing how sad Ella had been that had her so depressed. Climbing into the carriage, Lexie listlessly sank back against the cushions while the groomsman clucked to the horses.

  “Leaving already?” A familiar masculine voice inquired from the walkway and Lexie nearly broke her neck straining to see Tremaine.

  “Stop!” she ordered, and the groomsman obeyed. Tremaine appeared at the side of the carriage and offered a hand to help her down. At her hesitation, his mouth quirked.

  “Oh, hell,” Lexie muttered, accepting his hand. She could only fool herself so long. “Where were you?” she demanded when she was on the street beside him.

  He laughed. He was so devilishly handsome that Lexie concluded it was no wonder Celeste had been smitten. In buckskin breeches, his leather jacket, and a pair of shining brown boots, he was the same Tremaine she’d grown up with, yet he was different.

  “Why do you care?” he asked.

  “Never mind. If they knew you like I do, they’d realize beauty is only skin deep.”

  “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

  “That you’ve caused me no end of grief during my lifetime and enjoyed every blasted minute of it.”

  So she’d forgiven him, or at least accepted their attraction for each other. Grinning, Tremaine turned to Miss Everly’s groomsman. Soon the carriage was heading down the street.

  Lexie’s jaw dropped and she stared after it with mixed feelings. She was going to be in trouble again, she realized with a dry mouth. In more ways than one.

  “I promise I won’t sleep with you again tonight,” Tremaine said near her ear.

  Lexie drew in a startled breath. “The things you say, Dr. Danner,” she murmured uncomfortably.

  “That’s because I only think of you as a sister.”

  She glanced sharply at him, but his face gave nothing away. “I don’t think I trust you,” she said with unabashed honesty, and Tremaine laughed again.

  “Good. Don’t.”

  “But I do love Jace,” she lied, instinctively protecting herself. Tremaine dark scowl was his only response as they walked to the livery behind the hospital.

  “You are going to take me back, aren’t you?” Lexie asked tentatively.

  “Eventually. Have you eaten dinner?”

  “Yes. You haven’t?”

  He shook his head. “I just came from a patient and haven’t had time.”

  Lexie realized then why he’d appeared so suddenly. He’d walked from the dismal street where she’d nearly met a horrible fate the night before. “Your patient lives down there?” she asked, pointing to the ominous, darkened tenements lining the narrow street.

  “Some of the rooms aren’t quite the squalor you see from here. Actually, she keeps a neat home — or at least she did, before she contracted tuberculosis.”

  “Tuberculosis?” Lexie repeated.

  “Consumption,” Tremaine explained tersely.

  She shuddered. It was a terrible disease and she couldn’t imagine living in one of those rooms, gasping for air while your lungs slowly filled with lesions. “I saw those buildings, Tremaine. None of them is fit to be a proper home.”

  “When did you see the buildings?” he asked, looking do
wn the street from her angle. Other than the corner block, there was very little the eye could view.

  Too late Lexie realized she’d given herself away. “Er, well, Harrison drove me through there when he and I came to visit you. Didn’t you get the message from the receptionist?”

  “It said Harrison had been to see me, but nothing about you.” Tremaine threw her an assessing look.

  “Well, that’s how I knew the way to your hospital.” Desperately seeking to change the subject, she added quickly, “I wondered why you never contacted me.”

  “Lexie, you didn’t ride through these streets last night, did you?” Tremaine asked with sudden understanding.

  He was much too astute. She threw him a bright smile. “You’re changing the subject. Why didn’t you come see me? For a while, I thought you were avoiding me.”

  “I was,” he stated flatly, surprising her, then added in an ominously calm tone that nevertheless sent shivers down her back, “If I thought for one minute you rode that monster through here I’d wring your lovely neck.”

  “I — I don’t know what you mean.”

  He swore pungently and grabbed her arm. “This isn’t Rock Springs, you little fool. Do you know what could happen to you?”

  “I’m not a child, Tremaine,” she answered through her teeth.

  “Ella might not have been the only one lying in a hospital bed today!” he raged furiously. “Damn you, Lexie. You could have been raped, or murdered, or both.”

  “I’m perfectly capable of—”

  “No, you’re not,” he cut off autocratically. “You’ve proven that over and over again.”

  Her nostrils flared in outrage. How had she ever entertained tender feelings for him? He was just as arrogant and infuriating as he’d ever been. “Tremaine, if you don’t start treating me as a woman, I’ll slam my fist into your eye.”