"You're beautiful…" he murmured at her ear.
"Don't stop kissing me…" she cried. "Oh dear God, Hank, I want you too."
He smiled against the nipple that beckoned his full attention.
He slowly reached around to pull her up firmly against him, fitting her buttocks in his hands and squeezing her against him so she could feel the fullness of his arousal as she moaned with pleasure.
About to rip the shirt away from her completely, the barn door flew open and Caleb walked in.
Hank heard his curse under his breath, as he hurriedly protected Letty from Caleb's prying eyes. In one lithe movement, he nudged her away and she hurriedly fixed her shirt as she moved toward Whitey that had been their only audience. Hank couldn't help but look one last time at the prize that was nearly his.
Caleb cleared his throat and smiled, and Hank knew he hadn't fooled the old man for one moment from the look on his face. But if Caleb was a true gentleman, he wouldn't comment, even if he didn't like it.
"Going for a ride?" Caleb said instead.
"No…I guess I'm not up to it today…" Letty murmured, as she slowly turned around and shot Caleb a slight smile and headed for the door. "Hank assured me I wasn't ready yet. Would you mind unsaddling him for me…? Managing with one arm isn't exactly fun."
"Sure…"
Then Caleb looked at Hank. Caleb was no fool, Hank quickly realized and to keep from embarrassing himself he turned away and busied himself with a rope hanging on the stall door. He wasn't sure he could fool the old cowboy, but he wasn't about to admit he was seconds from making love to Letty McKay.
"That Letty, she's somethin' isn't she?" Caleb chuckled and turned away.
"Yeah, I don't think a ride is a good idea yet, do you?"
"Nope, I sure don't. Good thing you persuaded her to not do it. Someone would have to go with her, she don't need to be alone with that arm." Caleb chuckled and took the saddle off of Whitey, leading him back to his stall. "Glad you talked her out of that."
Hank thought about what nearly happened and berated himself. He didn't want to take advantage of Letty. He cared about her too much to do that, but nature had a way of taking its course, whether he liked it or not wanting Letty had become a real and permanent problem for him. One thing was for sure, he'd treasure this day for the rest of his life. The day he almost made love to Letty McKay.
If Caleb hadn't come in, he'd be making love to her right now. Hank thought about that and quite nearly couldn't move again. He sighed heavily against the stall door and tried to find a reason why he couldn't move for several long moments. And yet when he looked at Caleb he knew the old man knew too.
What did he think of him?
And how in the world was he going to be around the woman day after day without eventually doing what they both wanted?
***
Letty moved on shaky legs to the house. What almost happened shocked her now, and thrilled her even more. It was the first sign that Hank really felt something for her, even if it was just physical. She relived the kiss, making instant butterflies in her stomach, and causing her to almost fall from weakness. But the way he had kissed her breast was something she'd only dreamed about. The sensation he evoked simmered like wild flowers in her stomach. She ached for the completion of their love. She ached to be made love to, by Hank and only Hank.
The sensations his kisses brought startled her. She'd never wanted a man like this. Never dreamed the excitement Hank wielded when he held her in his arms, touched her so gently, kissed her so thoroughly. That same hot ache returned now, and nearly over-powered her.
She knew she was falling in love with him, but to want him so blatantly scared her witless. She had to think of him, his position here, and her reputation. And yet, nothing was as important as coming together moments ago. Nothing.
Oh Lord, maybe he thinks I'm easy. I was so ready to give in to him.
Thousands of things flitted through her mind as she relived the moments with him in the barn. The hot unbidden desire that sprang up so quickly between them tempted her to drag him to a dark corner and go through with it. But the angelic side of her fought those urges, wondering where they came from.
She had never met a man that could manipulate her body so with mere kisses. His mouth against her cool skin, in the dark of the barn, mulling her breast with his nose, making love to it with his lips, and kneading it like a fine bread with his warm, big hands, he'd been so gentle. He'd set her on fire with the urgency that drove him. At that moment, as his lips tasted her, she would have given him anything. She hadn't missed the fact that he was as aroused as she. That made her nearly swoon. Hank Silver wanted her. Wow! And she had felt him grow hard and wanting against her. That experience made her weak just thinking about it. She couldn't remember that happening with any man she'd been with. The feel of his strong reaction to her thrilled her beyond compare. She gloried in it, relived it, and would keep it with her always.
Caleb walking in on them had to be a life saver. After all, she couldn't just have sex with Hank. She wanted much more from him than that. And yet, if Caleb hadn't walked in, would she have let Hank make love to her. Her mind said no, but her heart and body said yes.
Good grief, she had to get a grip!
For the rest of the week she stayed inside, trying to avoid Hank. And yet, she didn't avoid thinking about him. In fact, she fantasized about him taking her all the way. If he had been gentle with her breast, how would he be with the rest of her willing body? She had to sort in her mind exactly how far she was going to let this attraction go. Attraction? That wasn't the right word for it. It didn't fit what she felt. It went way beyond attraction. It was a need and would have to be assuaged sooner or later, she knew that. In her mind she wished it would wait for her wedding night, but since Hank was so against making anything permanent with her, she might have to take a real leap of faith. Did she still have a choice? She wasn't sure. Until she was sure of herself, she didn't want to be around him. He was just too powerful an influence. Besides, she didn't think when she was with Hank, she felt.
Eric had accused her of being a tease; was she? Had she been a tease with Hank? Did Hank think she was a tease? She hoped not. She wasn't playing games with Hank. She wanted him, all of him, wrapped up with a ring and a wedding. But how could she convince him?
Hank couldn't get beyond the McKay factor.
The money stood in her way of happiness.
Knowing this, she almost wanted to curse her father for giving her any inheritance. She didn't need his money to be happy. She needed Hank.
Maybe she could move away, give up the money, get a job then Hank would have to rethink her, wouldn't he?
But if Hank didn't love her, if he only wanted her body, then she'd lose more than money, she'd lose her heart.
The problem was getting Hank to commit; any kind of commitment would be good.
Good grief was she crazy, she hadn't so much as dated the man, and she wanted a commitment from him. Was that crazy? He wouldn't introduce her to his grandma.
It was a lost cause. She had to get Hank out of her system, but how?
He had said he wanted her, if she offered herself like a sacrifice, would he see how much she loved him?
"You've been avoiding your chores lately," Wendy admonished as she strode by the open door of Letty's bedroom.
"Uh…yeah, I have. But I'll make it up to you, to all of you. I'll cook this week. I promise."
"Some reason you can't do them?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, there is…" Letty sighed knowing Wendy wouldn't let this drop. She loved her, but sometimes she just wanted to wring her little nosey neck.
"Well?" Wendy prodded.
"I'm avoiding someone. And it's hard to avoid them if I go outside," Letty explained.
Wendy paused in the doorway then moved more fully into the bedroom. "Who are you avoiding?"
"Hank…" she spat it out. Might as well level or she'd never be left alone.
"Hank�
�Hank Silver?" Wendy twisted her head as though she were trying to put the puzzle together.
"Yeah, that's the one." Letty hung her robe on the bathroom hook and moved into the bedroom where Wendy had planted herself on the edge of the bed.
"Why?"
"Don't you think he's kind of hunky?" Letty asked flippantly.
"Hunky? Hank? Well, I never paid much attention. I guess he is. Don't you get along with him?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah…a little too well, if you get my drift." Letty chuckled.
Wendy seemed to take the information in, and think it over before she spoke again. Then she looked up at Letty. "You like him?"
"Oh yeah…I like him." Letty nodded with a smile.
Wendy stretched her leg across the bed and leaned back on the iron rail of the bed. "Well now, that's a real surprise. So, what's the problem? He's a nice enough guy. Wade thinks a lot of him."
Letty glanced at her sister. "Hank doesn't want to get involved with a McKay."
Wendy's eyes got big. "Oh…that could be a real problem. Wade says Hank is kind of old fashioned."
"He's very old fashioned. He's abiding by Dad's old rules. I like him, but he's afraid I'm going to be too rich for him. I'm thinking of leaving the ranch, Wendy, getting a job and seeing if that would make a difference."
"You are kidding me?" Wendy's eyes rounded on her. "You'd go that far? Are you in love with him?"
"Well, duh…" Letty laughed.
"But you can't do that, Letty. I mean, what if Hank doesn't care for you as much as you care for him. Think of what you might risk?" Wendy cautioned her.
"I've been thinking of nothing else. But honestly Wendy, I don't really care. Money does not motivate me," Letty confessed.
"I can't believe you'd do this," Wendy exploded, standing up. "My God…Letty!"
"I know, it does sound a little wild, doesn't it?" Letty admitted, coming to the side of the bed.
Wendy threw her hands on her hips and tossed her head back. "It's such a gamble. I mean, you don't even have an engagement ring."
"I know. I haven't even met his grandmother."
"His grandmother? Oh yeah, the one that lives with him. But Letty, think what you might be giving up?"
"I have thought about it, for days. I know it's a gamble. It's like throwing your life in a ring of fire and waiting to see if it burns up. It's like putting all your money on the least odds. But what else can I do? I love him…." Letty cried out with her own frustration.
Wendy shook her head. "You need to think about this for a while."
"I have been thinking. It's the only thing I can do to let Hank know I'm serious too."
"Is he serious about you?"
"I think so…" Letty said and saw the frown on Wendy's face.
"You think so? You don't know for sure?"
"Wendy." Letty grabbed her by the arms and held her so she could look straight into her face. "How sure can any of us be about a man? I look at it this way, I'll find out how serious he is this way."
"But honey," Wendy grabbed Letty's arms now, "think about what you might have to give up."
"Dad's money. Well Wendy, I do know how to make money. In fact, I make fairly well on my modeling money."
"But can you live a lifetime on that?" Wendy questioned, her young face very serious.
"If I invest or spend it wisely." Letty hesitated.
"Oh Letty, don't do this…"
Letty shrugged. "I really don't know what else I can do. Seems pretty clear cut to me. I'm in love with him, and Hank won't have anything to do with me because of the money. So, I walk away from it, and maybe there will be a happy ending to the story."
"You love him that much?"
Letty stared blankly at Wendy now and let her arms fall to her sides, and nodded her head slowly. "I think I do…"
"Promise me something." Wendy still held her.
"What?"
"Don't do anything too quickly. Not until you think about this some more, please," Wendy encouraged.
Letty nodded. "Okay. I promise. I said it was a thought. I didn't say I'd do it tomorrow. But I don't see any other way. It would prove to Hank I don't need Dad's money to be happy."
Wendy let her go and started to leave, but looked at her over her shoulder. "I'm going to see if Julie can talk some sense into you."
Letty smiled and stared out the window at Hank who was working by the barn.
***
Julie flew into the yard in Cade's pickup and screeched the brakes. She got out of the car and ran inside the house and up to Letty's bedroom.
Letty was painting her toe-nails on her bed and raised her eyes slowly to her anxious sister. She knew Wendy had told her about her plan. She wasn't at all sure what she was going to say or how she would defend herself.
"I guess Wendy told you." Letty laughed.
"Yes, she did. And I think we need to talk." Julie's face was a mass of emotions.
"Okay, let's talk," Letty encouraged as she motioned for Julie to take the chair by the side of her bed.
"You can't be serious, Letty," Julie began.
"Oh, I'm pretty serious." Letty chuckled. "I've been mulling it over for a week now. It's the only solution that I can see. I can live comfortably on what I make modeling, or I can get a job."
"You'd just walk away from all the money you can inherit?" Julie narrowed her gaze on Letty. "What Dad wanted to give you?"
"Yeah, I would," Letty admitted, her smile fading a bit.
"But honey, you don't even know how Hank feels, do you?"
Letty considered that question before answering. "No, not for sure."
"I can't believe this. What Dad is leaving you is enough for you to live well for the rest of your life, and you are going to walk out on it for a man?" Julie frowned.
"Sounds silly the way you put it, but yes, I think I am," Letty acknowledged. "I mean come on, look at this rationally. Hank won't have anything to do with a McKay. He won't have anything to do with a woman who earns more than he does. He wants to be a man. I understand that. He wants to provide for his wife. I understand that. If he can't, he's not much a man. Well, he can't provide for a McKay, let's face it. He doesn't make that much money. I respect his feelings."
"You love him that much? Honey, you two haven't even had a date," Julie cried out. "Does he love you?"
"There's something there. That's true. You are right, we haven't dated," Letty admitted. "Look, I know this sounds pretty wild. I know it's taking a huge chance. I know all of that. But I can support myself, Julie. I did it for a long time after I left. I can do it again. Just because I'm supposed to inherit a fortune, doesn't mean I have to take it. We do have options. And frankly, I want a family myself. I want a man to come home to. What chance do I have being a McKay, waiting on Daddy to give it to me? I don't want to be the richest woman in Texas. I want to be Hank's wife. Or someone's."
Julie stared at her sister, giving her a knowing glance. "You are willing to do this?"
"I am."
"Maybe you ought to talk to him about it first. I mean, there could be other reasons he won't get tangled up with you. Are you going to try to change all the reasons?"
"Maybe there is. But at least this way I could be sure it wasn't because of the McKay money. And like I said, I can support myself. It's not that much a gamble. A lot of women support themselves. I enjoy it. Besides, if he knew, he'd insist I didn't leave the ranch and get a job. He might leave himself, if he thought I'd do it. That's why I can't tell him at all. Not for a while at least," Letty explained.
"You've already made up your mind about this, haven't you?" Julie sighed heavily.
"Pretty much." Letty giggled.
"I hope you know what you are doing. It's a big thing to give up. I'm not sure I could," Julie said, shaking her head. "It scares me witless. I know you can make a living, but still, this way you'd have all the money you needed and you could enjoy your life."
"I've thought about that too. But Julie, all I have to
support is myself. And I've been doing it for years. I like the independence. You of all people should understand that. And when you think about it, working for a living gives you a good feeling. I wouldn't have that feeling if Dad just handed over the money to me, for doing nothing more than being his daughter. I didn't earn it."
"I do. I really do understand it. I mean, if it weren't for Kellie, I probably wouldn't be around here either. I could have worked too. And I have to admit, I enjoyed it too, to some extent. It's just that if something happened in my life, if I became disabled, or Kellie had medical problems, I would want to know I could take care of her. Now, taking the money, I can help Cade too. Why don't you try to talk him into being a little more understanding of who and what you are? You never know when you might really need the money."
Letty sighed. "Have you been around Hank much?"
"No, I can't say I have. Cade has. He's told me he's real old fashioned and believes the man should earn the money. That he's kind of immovable about it too," Julie confessed.
"Exactly. And believe it or not I like that about him. He's a man's man so to speak. He's like Dad was. Dad made his way, made his fortune himself. He was the breadwinner. So is Hank. He is the male dominant role. I like that. But unfortunately, I am not in the right position to interest him in marriage. Not like this, sitting around waiting to be a multi-millionaire."
"Wow, you want to marry Hank?" Julie gasped.
"More than anything. But like you say, he may not feel the same, and if he doesn't I have to learn to live with that too."
"But…you hardly know him," Julie protested. "I mean…"
"Now there is where you are wrong. I do know him. And that's the whole thing that makes this all so hard. He's a man with principles. And I love that about him. He's a man who doesn't want to take the advantage. I love that too. But the way things are, we'll never date unless I get out of here. He wouldn't consider asking me out. Shoot…he won't even introduce me to his grandmother," Letty cried, flinging her arms in the air.
Ring of Fire Page 9
