Vegas Vows, Texas Nights

by Charlene Sands

  Once they reached her street, Luke steered his car to the back door of her shop and parked. She’d want him to use discretion so the people strolling along the sidewalk wouldn’t see him trying to get a sleepy Katie out of his car.

  He didn’t give two figs about being seen with her, so this he did for her.

  “Sweetheart,” he said gently, taking her hand trying to rouse her.

  She didn’t wake readily, only curled deeper into the comfort of her jacket.

  “Katie, honey, you’re home. You need to wake up.”

  She mumbled something incoherently and continued to sleep.

  “Okay,” he said on a whisper. “Looks like you need Prince Charming, only I don’t see him anywhere around here.”

  He smirked at his bad joke and then got out of the car. When he opened her passenger side door, he hoped the cooler air would jostle her awake. When that didn’t happen, he scooped her up in his arms, taking her handbag along with him.

  “Luke,” she breathed out and the sound of her sultry voice nearly did him in. His wholesome Katie was a very sexy temptation.

  “I’ve got you.”

  He managed to dig the keys out of her purse, and once inside the bakery, he climbed the stairs to her apartment. Sleep tousled and still drowsy, she was light in his arms and relaxed enough to lie against his chest as he opened her apartment door. He carried her inside and wanted so much to deposit her onto her bed and lie down next to her.

  Once in her living room, he set her on her feet and held on as she gained her footing. “Katie?”

  She opened her eyes and gazed up at him. “Sorry. I was just so tired. I don’t know why... I’ve never been that tired before.”

  Touching her cheek, Luke brushed a honey blond strand of hair off her face. “It’s not a problem,” he said quietly. “You’ve had a lot on your plate, sweetheart.”

  “I guess that must be it.” The apartment was cool and dark and Katie looked so tempting, so soft. “Did I sleep all the way home?”

  “Not all the way.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Oh gosh. I’m so embarrassed. You’re always seeing me at my worst.”

  “That’s an impossibility, Katie.”

  “Luke,” she warned, but with a smile on her face.

  Yeah, he knew the drill. She was constantly giving him warnings. Yet Katie didn’t know how hard it was standing this close to her while she looked so damn tousled and sexy. She had no idea how hard it was for him to say good-night when he was legally married to her. He summoned up his willpower. “I’d better get going. Let you get some rest.”

  Was that a twinge of disappointment in her eyes? “It’s probably for the best.”

  “Yeah,” he said, hating to go. He touched a finger to her cheek and then kissed her there, softly, tenderly. “Good night then.” He turned away from her, leaving her looking a little bit lost in the middle of the room.

  When he was halfway to the door, she called to him. “Luke?”

  He spun on his heels and faced her.

  She took a big swallow. “Don’t go.”

  Oh God. He drew breath into his lungs and approached her. “Why?”

  “I mean you can go if you want to, but I’m just saying I’m not as tired now and if you’d like to stay for coffee or a drink, that would be nice. But you don’t have to, you can always—”

  “I’ll stay.”

  “You will?”

  He nodded. She had no idea how much he’d wanted to hear those words.

  “But if I do, I’d want—”

  “I, uh, sort of know what you want, Luke.” She squeezed her eyes closed briefly.

  He scratched his head. She was just so adorable. “I was going to say I’d want a cupcake with that coffee. If it’s not too much trouble.”

  A look of relief swept over her face. “No, not at all. I’m your go-to for all things cupcake.”

  His go-to for all things, period.

  “Just kick me out when you want me to leave,” he said. They’d lingered after the bridal shower, Katie going gaga over Drea’s gifts and talk of the wedding, while he had beers with both of his brothers, but it was still early in the evening.

  She chuckled. “Don’t worry. I will.”

  He didn’t want to dwell on how easy it was for her to reject him, time and again. “So, are you always this peppy after a long nap?”

  “I don’t know. I usually don’t take naps,” she said as she walked into the kitchen and flipped on the light. She arranged half a dozen mouthwatering cupcakes on a dish and put them on the table, then began making coffee. “Have a seat.”

  Luke opted not to sit at the table. He leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her work. It smelled good in her kitchen, like sugar and warmth. “I plan on going to the rescue tomorrow. Haven’t been back since Snow passed.”

  “Neither have I,” she admitted. She stopped pouring ground beans into the coffee maker and bit her lip. “It’s gonna be hard going back.”

  “Yeah. But there are so many other horses who need attention. After the wedding, I’m going to look into raising funds for Red Barrel. I’ve already spoken to Wes about it. They could use more financial support.”

  “It’s a good idea, but I know your family—you, mostly—have been donating on a regular basis.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I hear things and that’s all I’m going to say.”

  “You like keeping secrets, is that it?”

  Her eyes grew as round as the cupcakes on the platter. “I certainly do not. I’m a very honest person and I hate secrets. You’re the one making anonymous donations to the rescue and secretly marrying the first girl too drunk to know better.” She blinked several times.

  “First of all, sweetheart, it’s not a crime to make a private donation once in a while. And second of all, you’re not the first girl.”

  “Oh.”

  “You’re the only girl.”

  She met his eyes and whispered, “Don’t, Luke.”

  “Why’d you really invite me in tonight? And I want the honest truth.”

  She put her chin up, as if refusing to answer, but he stared at her for a long time and then her eyes fluttered and finally she admitted, “I get lonely...sometimes.”

  His heart pulled tight and he touched a finger to her cheek, the skin smooth and soft there. “You don’t ever have to be, not when I’m around.”

  She took a hard swallow, her eyes filled with regret. He hated seeing her looking so torn and scared. He couldn’t have her afraid of him. She had to know he was her safe space. Leaning against the counter, he took her hand and brought her into the cradle of his arms. Her body pressed against his and all his willpower dashed out the window. Oh man.

  “You don’t have to say those things,” she said quietly. “You’re not really my husband.”

  “We have a marriage license to prove it,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  “It’s just paper. It’s not real.”

  “It’s not just paper, sweetheart. And that’s why you’re fighting it so much.”

  “We’ve had this argument before,” she said softly.

  “Let’s not have it again.” And then he brushed his lips over hers and made love to her mouth until the coffeepot sizzled and the cupcakes were long forgotten.

  * * *

  Katie didn’t want to have this uncanny, impossible attraction to Lucas Boone. Her brain was telling her no, no, no, while all other parts of her body screamed out yes. She’d never been in this kind of dilemma before. Usually she’d follow reason, but Luke had turned her rational thinking upside down.

  Now, after abandoning the coffee and cupcakes, both stood naked and aroused in her bedroom facing each other. It was a blur how quickly they’d shed their clothes and wound up in here. One earthquak
e of a kiss was all it had taken. They were cast mostly in shadow with only a glimmer of moonlight peeking in through the shutters.

  “I want to know all of you,” Luke said, taking her hand and kissing the inside of her palm. “I want you to know all of me, too.”

  Katie drew breath into her lungs. It seemed the harder she pushed him away, the more she thought about him, the more she wanted him. And now she was giving in to her true feelings, too tired to fight them any longer.

  She knew what he wanted and as she touched him, caressed him, she could only relish his groans of pleasure, his quick breaths. It was too good, too delicious, the sensations wrapping them both up causing heat to climb rapidly.

  And when she was through pleasuring him, he kissed her long and hard and then moved her onto the bed and returned the favor.

  She was out of her mind with one burning hot sensation after another. He was a master with his mouth, his hands. He knew not only where to touch her, but how to touch her, making her feel worshipped and treasured. His kisses made her pulse with lust and need. Then when his broad, powerful body covered hers, sheathed in protection and moving deep inside her thrust after thrust, she cried out his name and climaxed to the highest peak.

  It was beautiful. It was perfectly amazing. And scary as hell.

  Minutes later, Luke tucked her close, spooning her, his breath soft on her neck. He reached around to cup her breast with one hand and fondle her with his masterful fingers.

  “You’re beautiful this way,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

  “What way?” she asked, smiling. She was still blissfully coming down from her release.

  “Naked.”

  She laughed.

  He kissed her again. “But I also like it when you’re relaxed like this.”

  “Hmm. We do well like this,” Katie admitted.

  “Excuse me, did I just hear you say you think we’re good together?”

  “I wouldn’t go that...far. Oh.” He strummed his thumb over her nipple, sending immediate heat down to her belly. He was relentless, toying with her body, his hand stroking over places that could make her weep in pleasure.

  “You wouldn’t?” He brought his mouth to her shoulder and kissed her again and again. She squeezed her eyes tight. “Tell the truth.”

  “We can’t be...together, Luke.”

  “Seems like we are together, sweetheart. And it’s no use trying to deny it.”

  She turned to face him. She had to keep her resolve firm or they’d all live to regret it. “Luke, let’s not argue about this. Not tonight. Can we change the subject?”

  He paused, masking his feelings with a blank stare, which was fine with her. She didn’t want to delve too deeply into his emotions. Or hers, for that matter. “What would you like to talk about?”

  She turned onto her back and focused on the delicate patterns created by moonlight on the ceiling. “How about your father?”

  “My father?” She’d surprised him, but she’d always been curious about Henry Boone. He’d been legendary, but she was curious about something that was said about him.

  “Yes,” she said. “He had a reputation for being sort of a... Well, there’s no other way to say this. It was rumored he was quite ruthless in business.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re wealthy. People start thinking the worst of you.”

  “Really?”

  “Happened a lot in my family. Before Drea learned the truth, she believed my father swindled Drew out of his ranch, Thundering Hills. Yet, all my father was trying to do was protect her from the truth. Drew had gone through quite a rough patch after his wife died and he’d made a secret deal with my dad to buy his ranch and put the money away for Drea’s education. Drea wasn’t told the truth until she fell in love with Mason.”

  “It was hard on Drea when her mom died. So, when you were talking with Mason the other night at dinner about how your father welcomed competition, you were speaking the truth?”

  “Yes, my father was a fair man...to an extent. He always protected the town and made sure that the townsfolk came before dollar signs. It’s how Boone Springs has thrived.”

  “And you and your brothers follow in his footsteps?”

  “We try.”

  “I’ve always felt blessed that my shop has done so well. I thought for sure another bakery would’ve opened up by now. We’re a growing community and—”

  “You don’t have to worry about that, Katie.”

  “What?” There was something in his tone, a finality in his voice, that worried her. She nibbled on her lip.

  “You’re the best baker in Texas.”

  “I’m sure I’m not. But just then, you seemed so confident. What are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing, sweetheart. Just drop it.”

  “Luke, there’s five bakeries in Willow County and I always wondered why I’m lucky enough to have a monopoly on the bakery business in Boone Springs.”

  “The grocery stores sell baked goods.”

  “Not the same thing. I’ve been in business almost seven years and in all that time, no one has tried to open a bakery that I know of. I think I’ll ask April why that is.” April, soon to be Risk’s wife, was a Realtor. She knew both Willow and Boone counties very well. “She should know.”

  “Maybe, or maybe you should just count your lucky stars.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing, sweetheart. Just don’t involve April in this.”

  “In what?” Luke was being obtuse, deliberately trying to hide something. He kept his lips buttoned up tight.

  When he reached for her, she pulled away. “Tell me.”

  He sighed and scrubbed his jaw. “You know the Boones own more than half of the properties in town.”

  “Yes, common knowledge. So?”

  “So, we have a plan for the town, and each one of us has input.”

  “Okay?”

  “That’s it, Katie.”

  Baffled, she shook her head. “What’s it?” Then a thought flashed in her mind and she couldn’t let it go. She had to find out the truth no matter how the notion sickened her. “Are you saying the Boones have made sure I’ve had no competition?”

  “Not the Boones. Just me,” he said on an uncharacteristic squeak.

  “Just you?” She didn’t understand. Luke was confusing the hell out of her. “Why on earth would you do that?”

  “It’s not a bad thing, Katie. We’ve only had two inquiries and, well, they found better deals elsewhere.”

  “Because you made sure of it.” Katie’s emotions ran rampant. Anger, disappointment, betrayal. All of it made her heart ache. She rose from bed and threw on her clothes quickly.

  “Katie.”

  “Get dressed, Luke. Right now.”

  As she watched him put on his clothes, she shook uncontrollably. Now that he was dressed and she didn’t have to look at his striking body, she tried to make sense of this. She stood across the bed from him. “When did you do this? And I want the absolute truth?”

  “Five years ago.”

  “Five,” she whispered. Five. Frustrated, tears welled in her eyes. “Why, Luke? I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t you, Katie? Don’t you know?”

  She shook her head. She had no clue. Five years ago, he was dating her sister. Five years ago, he’d abandoned her sister. Five years ago, he’d joined the Marines.

  Luke walked around the bed and came to face her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and she was forced to look into his melt-your-heart blue eyes. “Katie, I’m in love with you.”

  “No!”

  “I am. And I’ve been in love with you for a very long time.”

  Oh God. She was afraid to ask. “H-how long?”

  “More than five years now. When I realized I loved you, I h
ad to back out of the wedding. I had to. I knew it was crazy and impossible. And so... I left town.”

  “That’s why you joined the service?” She trembled from head to foot.

  “Yes,” he said on a long breath as if he was finally relieved to confess it. He stroked her arms up and down.

  And then it all dawned on her and she flipped his arms off her and backed away. She was the reason Shelly’s heart had been broken. “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.” She couldn’t believe this. She couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. But she knew deep down in her heart it was true. It all made sense now. “I never encouraged you.”

  “You didn’t have to, Katie. You were just you.”

  “God, Luke. This is making me sick. Really sick. You have no idea how hurt Shelly was, how hard those first few years were for her. And now I find out it’s all because of me! I’m to blame for all her pain.” Tears streamed from her eyes now, big salty drops spilling down her cheeks.

  “Nobody’s to blame, Katie. You can’t help who you fall in love with.”

  “Obviously you couldn’t. And I’m not forgetting your duplicity about the bakery either. My goodness...you are certainly not like your father. You don’t play fair.”

  Luke’s eyes grew hot and he clenched his teeth. “All I wanted was for you to have a good life, Katie. I wanted you to be happy, to be successful.”

  “And you didn’t think enough of me to let me go after that success on my own.”

  “My God, woman. You are being irrational.”

  “I’m being real, Luke. And honest. I don’t want you to love me. I want a divorce as quickly as possible. And I want you to leave.”

  Luke looked her square in the eyes. “Fine.”

  “Well, good. Now go.”

  “I’m gone,” he said.

  After he slammed the door behind him, Katie’s stomach gripped tight and she raced to the bathroom, throwing up into the toilet until there was nothing left.

  Six

  Katie stared at the stick in her hand, looking at it hard and praying the results would miraculously change, but that was too much to hope for. The stick wasn’t changing, nor had it changed the last two times she’d taken the pregnancy test this week. The nausea, her late period and three pregnancy tests weren’t wrong. She was going to have Luke’s baby.