[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
frustration that wouldn't subside. Every time she thought about Ward, her body began to throb. These
new feelings frightened her because they were so unexpected. She didn't know what to do. The urge to
cut and run was very strong.
Lillian was hobbling around putting platters on the table for breakfast. She looked up, smiling, as
Mari came into the room dressed in jeans and a pullover burgundy knit blouse.
"Good morning, glory," Lillian said brightly.
"Isn't it a beautiful day?"
It was, in fact, but Lillian seemed to be overjoyed at something besides the great outdoors. "Yes,"
Mari returned.
She glanced at the empty chair at the head of the table.
"He'll be back in a minute," the older woman said knowingly: "Looks like a storm cloud this morning,
he does. All ruffled and absentminded. Been staring up that staircase ever since he came downstairs,
too," she added wickedly.
Mari darted into the kitchen. "I'll help you get breakfast on the table," she said quickly, avoiding that
amused gaze.
At least Lillian was enjoying herself. Mari wasn't. She was afraid.
She and Lillian had started eating before Ward came back. He looked tired, but his face brightened
when he spotted Mari. He smiled without really wanting to and tossed his hat onto a side table before
he sprawled into a chair. His jeans were dusty and his blue checked shirt was a little dishevelled.
"I've washed up," he told Lillian before she could open her mouth. "I had to help get a bull out of a
ditch."
"How did he get into the ditch?" Mari asked curiously.
Ward grinned. "Trying to jump a fence to get to one of my young heifers. Amazing how love affects
the mind, isn't it?"
Mari flushed. Lillian giggled. Ward leaned back in his chair, enjoying the view, watching Mari try to
eat scrambled eggs with forced enjoyment.
"Don't you want something to eat, boss?" Lillian asked.
"I'm not really hungry," he said without realizing what he was giving away to the old woman, who
beamed at him.
"But I'll have some toast and coffee, I guess. Sleep well, Mari?" he asked as Lillian handed him the
carafe.
Mari lifted her eyes. "Of course," she said, bluffing. "Did you?"
He shook his head, smiling faintly. "Not a wink." She got lost in his green gaze and felt the force of it
all the way to her toes. It took several seconds to drag her eyes down to her plate, and even then her
heart ran wild.
Ward watched her with evident enjoyment, caught up in the newness of having a woman react that
way to his teasing. Everything was new with Marianne. Just ordinary things, like sharing breakfast,
took on new dimensions.
He found that he liked looking at her. Especially now since he knew exactly what she looked like
under her clothes.
His eyes darkened in memory. God, how; exquisite she was!
Mari felt his intent stare all through her body. She could have made a meal of him, too, with her eyes.
He looked so good. For all his huge size he was lithe and graceful, and she loved the way he moved.
He was as sensuous a man as she'd ever known, a very masculine presence with a disturbing effect on
her senses. She didn't think her feet would ever touch the ground again. Just being near him set her on
fire. She wanted to get up and touch him, put her mouth on his, feel his arms crushing her to every inch
of that long, elegant body. Her fingers trembled on her fork, and she flushed with embarrassment
when he noticed her nervousness.
"Come for a ride with me," Ward said suddenly. She looked up at him.' 'Now?"
He shrugged. "Lillian can answer the phone. There's nothing pressing for today. Why not?'"
"No reason at all," Lillian agreed quickly. "Go ahead. I'll handle the home front."
Mari submitted before she could begin to protest.
Why pretend? She wanted to be alone with him, and he knew it. Her blue eyes searched his green
ones longingly, everything plain and undisguised in her oval face. He felt explosive. Young. A boy
again with a special girl.
.
He threw down his napkin and got to his feet, hoping his helpless urgency didn't show too much.
"Let's go," he bit off.
Mari followed him. She barely heard Lillian's voice behind her saying something about having fun.
Her eyes were on Ward's strong back, her body moving as If she were a sleepwalker. She was on fire
for him. Whatever happened now happened. She loved him. If he wanted her, she wasn't going to stop
him. He had to feel something for her, too.
He had to care just a little!
He saddled two horses in stark silence, his hands deft and firm as he pulled cinches tight and checked
bridles.
When he helped her into the saddle, his eyes' were dark and possessive, his band lingering when she
was seated.
"You look good on a horse, honey," he said quietly.
She looked down at him and smiled, feeling the warmth of his chest against her leg. "Do I?" she asked
gently, her voice soft with longing.
"I want you, Marianne," he said half under his breath. "I've thought about nothing else all night. So go
slow, will you? I want to talk today. Just talk. I want to get to know you."
That was flattering and a little surprising. Maybe even disappointing. But she had to keep it from
showing so she kept smiling. "I'd like that," she said.
He didn't answer her. He felt the same hunger she did, but he was more adept at hiding his yearnings.
He didn't want to frighten her off, not before he made a stab at establishing a relationship with her. He
didn't know how she was going to react to what he had in mind, but he knew they couldn't go on like
this. Things had to be settled today. Business was going to suffer if he kept on mooning over that
perfect young body, physical attraction was a damnable inconvenience, he thought angrily. He'd
thought he was too old to be this susceptible. Apparently he was more vulnerable than he'd ever
realized.
He swung into the saddle and led the way down the long trail that ran around the ranch. His men were
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
