Mail-order Bridegroom Part 23

She could accept that. Having to deal all these years with the constant

stream of difficulties on the ranch, it was a welcome change to have a second set of shoulders to help carry the burden.

"Why did you tell Buddy Peterson you'd be in touch?"

"To make certain he doesn't bother you again."

"And he'll agree to that?" she asked in amazement.

"I won't give him any choice." He opened his door. "Coming?"After unloading their overnight bags. Hunter led the way to the bank ofelevators. Once there, he keyed the security lock for the penthouse and Leahstiffened.

"The penthouse?"

He paused before answering, and for some reason his momentary hesitation made

her think of his advice about addressing the board members of Lyon Enterprises.

"Think

before you speak," he'd told her.

"Don't answer any question you don't want to." Perhaps that advice didn't apply solely to board members.

Perhaps it applied to recalcitrant wives as well.

"They paid me well in my previous job," he finally said. "I guess so. I'm surprised you left." The car glided rapidly upward and shepeeked at him from beneath her lashes. "But that's right... You said you'dstill do occasional jobs for them if they called.

Troubleshooting, isn't that your speciality? "

"Yes."

"What did you say the name of the company was?"

"I didn't." He leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his

chest."Why all the questions, Leah?""You can't expect me not to have questions." Her grip on her purse tightened."I'm... surprised.""Because I'm not the dirt-poor ranch-hand I once was?"She shot him a sharp look."We've been over this before. That's not the problem and you know it. You ask me to trust you. To trust you blindly. But you tell me nothing aboutyourself, which means you don't trust me.""Point taken," he conceded.The doors slid silently apart, opening on to a huge entrance hall.Swallowing nervously, she stepped out of the car."Good heavens, Hunter, look at this place!""I've seen it before, remember?" he said gently."Make yourself at home." '" Her heels clicked on the oak parquet flooring as she crossed to the sunken living-room.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked quietly.

"Why the games?"

His hat sailed past her, skimming the coffee-table and landing dead-center in

the middle of the chaise tongue.

"All

right. I admit I may have omitted a detail or two about my life these past eight years."

"A detail or two?" she questioned with irony."Or three. What difference does it make? I have money. And I have anapartment in Houston. So what?"

"It's a penthouse apartment," she was quick to remind him.

He shrugged irritably.

"Fine. It's a penthouse apartment. It doesn't change a d.a.m.ned thing. We're

still married. I still work the ranch.And you're still my wife. ""Am I?"He thrust a hand through his hair."What the h.e.l.l is that supposed to mean?""Why did you marry me, Hunter?""You know why."She nodded."For the ranch. Perhaps also for a bit of revenge. But what I don't understand is... why? Why would you care about such a small concern when youhave all this?" He didn't respond, and she realized that she could standthere until doomsday and he wouldn't answer her questions. She picked up herovernight bag.

"I'd like to freshen up. Where do I go?""Down the hallway. Third door on the right."She didn't look back. Walking away, she fought an un- ease--an unease she couldn't express and chose not to a.n.a.lyze fully. The door he'd indicated wasto the master bedroom. She closed herself in the adjoining bathroom andstripped off her clothes, indulging in a quick, refreshing shower. Slippingon a bathrobe, she returned to the bedroom.

She stood beside the bed for several minutes before giving into temptation.

Climbing on top of the down coverlet, she curled up in the center and shut her eyes. A short catnap

would do her a world of good. But, despite the best of intentions, her thoughts kept returning to Hunter and their conversation.

The situation between them grew more and more confusing with each pa.s.sing day. Standing in the middle of the penthouse living-room, seeing the visual proof of the wealth and power she'd long suspected, had forced her to face facts. Hunter Pryde had returned to the ranch for a reason. a reason he'd chosen not to share with her.

And no matter how hard she tried to fight it, the same j question drummed incessantly in the back of her mind. Having so much, what in heaven's name did he want with her and Hampton Homestead. if not revenge?

CHAPTER NINE.

'leah? Wake up, sweetheart. " She stirred, pulled from the most delicious dream of laughter and peace roses and babies with ebony hair and eyes. She looked up to find Hunter sittingbeside her on the bed. He must have showered recently; his hair was damp andslicked back from his brow, drawing attention to his angled bone-structure.He'd also discarded his shirt and wore faded jeans that rode low on his hipsand emphasized his lean, muscular build. He bent closer, smoothing her hairfrom her eyes, and his amulet caught the light, glowing a rich blue againsthis deeply bronzed chest.

"What time is it?" she murmured, stretching."Time for dinner. You've been sleeping for two hours.""That long?" She sat up, adjusting the gaping robe."I should get dressed.""Don't bother on my account," he said with a slow grin. "I thought we'd go casual tonight."

She wrinkled her nose.

"I suspect this might be considered a little too casual."

"Only one person will see." He held out his hand.

"Let me show you."

Curious, she slipped her fingers into his and clambered off the bed.

He returned to the living-room and gestured toward a spiral staircase she'd

failed to notice earlier.

"Follow me." At the top he blocked her path.

"Close your eyes and hold on," he instructed.

"Why?"

"You'll see.""Okay. Don't let me fall."Before she knew what he intended, he scooped her up into his arms."Trust, remember?" he murmured against her ear. A few minutes later he set her on her feet.

"You can look now."

She opened her eyes and gasped in disbelief. They stood on the roof of the

apartment building, but it was unlike any rooftop she'd ever seen. If she

hadn't known better, she'd have sworn they stood in the middle of a park.

Gra.s.s grew beneath her feet and everywhere she glanced were flowers--barrels

of petunias, pansies and impatiens.

Even irises and tulips bloomed in profusion.

"I thought you said you weren't a gardener," she accused.

"I lied," he said with a careless shrug. He indicated a greenhouse occupying

one end of the roof.

"Some of the more delicate flowers are grown there. But I've had an outside

concern take over since I moved to the ranch. They prepared everything forour visit.""It's... it's incredible.""Hungry?"Suddenly she realized that she was."Starving," she admitted."I thought we'd eat here. You can change if you want, but it isn't necessary."

She caught the underlying message. She could dine in nothing but a robe,

just as he dined in nothing but jeans, or she could dress and use her clothes as . a shield, a subtle way of distancing herself.

"This is fine," she said casually.

"Satisfy my curiosity, though.

What sort of meal goes with scruffiness and bare feet? "

"A picnic, of course."

He pointed to a secluded corner where a blanket had already been spread onthe gra.s.s. All around the sheltered nook were pots and pots of azaleas,heavy with blossoms in every conceivable shade. A bucket anch.o.r.ed one corner of the blanket, the top of a champagne bottle thrusting out of the ice. Next to the champagne she saw a huge wicker basket covered with a red-checkedsquare of linen.

She chuckled at the cliche."Fried chicken?" she guessed."Coleslaw and potato salad," he confirmed."Fast food?"He looked insulted."Catered." Crossing to then- picnic spot, he knelt beside the basket and unloaded the goodies on to china."You're kidding," she said in disbelief, joining him on the blanket."China? For a picnic?"He gave her a bland smile."Isn't that what you use?""Not likely." She examined the champagne. Terrier Jouet flower bottle?

Lalique flutes? Hunter, I'm almost afraid to touch anything. "

She stared at him helplessly.

"Why are you doing this?"

"It seemed... appropriate."