Mail-order Bridegroom Part 24

She bowed her head, her emotions threatening to shatter her self-control.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"It's beautiful."

"You're hungry," he said, and she wondered if she just imagined the

tenderness in his voice.

"Try this."

He held out a succulent sliver of chicken that he'd stripped from the bone.

She took it from him and almost groaned aloud. He was right.This didn't come close to fast food. She'd never tasted chicken with such a light, delicate flavor. Drawing her knees up against her chest, she tuckedinto the next piece he offered."Don't you trust me with the china?" she teased.

He extended a forkful of potato salad.

"Not when I'm seducing you."

"With potatoes and fried chicken?" She nibbled the potato salad and this

time did groan aloud."Ignore that question. This is delicious.""Want more?" At her eager nod, he patted the spot next to him."Then come closer."With a laugh she scrambled across the blanket to his side, and before long they shared a plate between them, exchanging finger food and dispensing with silverware whenever possible. Finally replete, she didn't resist when he drew her down so her head rested in his lap.

"Look at the sunset," she said, gesturing at the vivid colors streaking

across the sky above them."That's one of the reasons we're eating out here." He filled a flute withchampagne. Impaling a strawberry on the rim, he handed it to her.

"There's dessert.""No, thanks." She sipped the champagne."This is all I need." His fingers slipped into her hair and she closed her eyes beneath the delicate stroke of his hand, his abdomen t warm against her cheek.

"Leah, watch," he murmured.

She glanced up at the sky. As the last touch of purple faded into black, tiny pinp.r.i.c.ks of light flickered to life around the rooftop.

It was as though the stars had fallen from the heavens and been scattered like glittering dewdrops among the flowers. She raised a trembling, hand to her mouth.

"Hunter, why?" She couldn't phrase the question any clearer, but he seemedto understand what she asked."I wanted tonight to be perfect."She released a shaky laugh."You succeeded.""Good. Because I'm going to make love to you and I want it to be special.

Very special." He made no move to carry out his promise. Instead he sat motionless, apparently enjoying the serenity of the evening.

"Eight years ago you told your grandmother about our meeting at the

line-shack, didn't you?" he asked unexpectedly.It was the last question she had ever envisioned him broaching. She didn'teven consider lying to protect Rose. "Yes."

"You came to the line-shack and waited for me.""Yes," she admitted again."When did you find out I'd been arrested?""When you told me.""I was afraid of that." He released a long sigh."I owe you an apology, Leah. I didn't believe you. I thought you were lying about what happened back then.""Did Grandmother Rose tell you the truth?""Yes. She told me.""I'm glad." Leah hesitated, then said,"There's also an explanation for why I wouldn't leave with you if you're willing to listen."

The muscles in his jaw tightened, but he nodded.

"I'm listening."

"I told my grandmother about our meeting because I couldn't leave without

saying goodbye to her. That was when I learned about Dad. He was dying of

cancer. Hunter. I had to stay and help take care of him.That's why I wouldn't have gone with you. But I would have asked you to comeback . afterward. " She stared at him with nervous dread.

"I.

hope you believe me, because it's the truth. "

For a long time he remained silent. Then he spoke in a low, rough voice, the

words sounding as though they were torn from him.

"Growing up in an orphanage, honesty came

in short supply. So did trust.No one cared much about the truth, just about finding a culprit.""And were you usually the culprit?" she asked compa.s.sionately."Not always. But often enough.""Didn't you try and explain?"

"Why?" he asked simply."No one would have believed me. I was a mongrel. Not that I was innocent,you understand. I provoked my share of trouble."

She could believe he had, though she suspected that the trouble he'd provoked had never been undeserved.

"And then one day..." she prompted.

"How did you know there was a " one day"?"

She shrugged.

"It makes sense." She felt his laugh rumble beneath her ear."You're right. Okay. One day--on my fifteenth birthday, as a matter offact--they accused me of doing something I didn't. It was the last time thathappened."

"What did they accuse you of?"

"Breaking a snow crystal--remember, those globes you shake and the littleflakes swirl around inside? This one had a knight fighting a dragon."She stilled."A knight and a dragon?""Yes. I'd always been fascinated by the crystal, but it belonged to one of the live-in workers and was off-limits. When it broke, I took the rap.""But you didn't break it.""No.""Why was that the last time they accused you?""I left. For good.""Blind trust," she whispered."Blind trust," he confirmed."I've never had anyone give me unconditional trust before--never had anyone stand by

me in the face of overwhelming odds. I guess it's a futile dream.Still. it's my dream. "She sat up and slipped her arms around his neck."If I could wrap my trust in a box, I'd give it to you as my wedding-gift,"

she told him.

"But all I have is words."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," he warned.

Her brows drew together and she nodded.

"Then I'll promise to try.

That's the best I can offer right now. "

"It's a start."

He cupped her face and, after what seemed an endless moment, he lowered his

mouth to hers. It was as though she'd been waiting an eternity for hispossession. There'd be no further reprieve, no postponing the inevitable.After tonight she'd belong to him, joined with bonds more permanent than hisring on her finger.

Champagne and strawberries flavored his kiss, a kiss he ended all too soon, leaving her desperately hungry for more.

"Hunter," she pleaded.

"Easy," he answered, his lips drifting the length of her jaw.

"Slow and easy, love."

And he did take it slow, seducing her with long, deep kisses, igniting the fires that burned so hotly between them. Slipping her robe from her shoulders, he cupped the pendant that had become a permanent fixture about her neck and in silent homage his mouth found the spot between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s where it so often nestled.

She gripped his shoulders, her eyes falling shut, blocking out the pagansight of his dark head against her white skin. All she could do after that was feel. feel the touch of his tongue and teeth on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, feel thehard, possessive sweep of his hands as he stripped off her robe, baring her "You're even more beautiful than I remember," he told her.

"Make love to me. Hunter. Now." She shifted in his grasp, wanting to becloser, trembling with the strength of her need.

He lowered her to the blanket and she opened her eyes, staring up at him. He held himself above her, the embodiment of lean, masculine grace and rawpower--a power muted only by the tenderness reflected in the black depths ofhis gaze. Then he came to her, joined with her, his body a welcome weight,hard and angled and taut beneath her hands.

And there, sequestered within their tiny slice of heaven, he showed her anewthe true meaning of ecstasy. She didn't hold back. She couldn't. For, ifshe gave him nothing else, she'd give him all the love she possessed.

They spent the entire weekend at the apartment, relearning their roles aslovers. For Leah it deepened a love that had never truly died.

Unfortunately, Hunter's reaction proved more difficult to read. He wanted her; she didn't doubt that for a minute. She could inflame him with the simplest of touches--his dark eyes burning with a hunger that stole herbreath. Nor could she complain of his treatment, his gentleness revealing acertain level of caring. But love? If he experienced such an emotion, hekept it well-hidden.

To Lean's dismay, leaving the seclusion of the apartment and returning to theranch proved to be the hardest thing she'd ever done.

Worse, the morning after their return Hunter rode Dreamseeker, the stallionat long last surrendering to the stronger, more determined force. Leah couldn't help drawing a comparison, feeling as though she, too, hadsurrendered to Hunter's perseverance, giving everything while he remainedaloof and independent and in control. Never had she felt so defenseless, soaware of her own vulnerability-- nor had she ever felt so afraid. As much as she'd have liked to protect herself, she suspected it was far too late.

The morning after Hunter broke the stallion, her fears took a new direction.Dreamseeker was missing from the pasture.

"Saddle Ladyfinger," Hunter directed.

"And grab your slicker. It looks like more rain."

Struggling to hide her concern, she did as he'd ordered, lashing the yellowoilskin to the back of her saddle.

"Could he have smashed down the fence again?" she asked apprehensively.

Hunter shook his head.

"Not a chance."

He mounted his buckskin and they started out, riding toward the area thehorse had broken through before. They'd almost reached the southernmostpoint of Hampton land when the first scream reverberated across the pasture.

Leah had heard that sound only twice before in her life, and it was one she'dnever forget. It turned her blood to ice. Throwing a panicked glance inHunter's direction, she dug her heels into Ladyfinger's flanks and chargedtoward the sound. Hunter at her side.

Throughout the tense moments of that mad dash to the Circle P she prayedshe'd be wrong. Prayed that Dreamseeker was safe.

Arriving at the property line, they paused briefly. The fence separating thetwo ranches had indeed been knocked down again, and Leah's heart sank. There was no doubt now as to what had happened. nor what was about to happen.Another scream echoed from over the next ridge, answered by an equallyinfuriated trumpeting. Crossing on to Circle P land, they sprinted to thetop of the hill and discovered Bull Jones sitting on his mount, watching thescene below unfold.

Dreamseeker stood at one end of a small, tree-enclosed meadow, circling achestnut thoroughbred stallion. Off to one side milled a nervous herd of mares, undoubtedly the motivation for the fight.

Dreamseeker reared on to his hind legs, gnashing his teeth and striking outwith his hooves. The chestnut joined in the ritualistic dance, copying eachthreatening move.

"You did this, Leah," Bull growled, gimlet-eyed.