Hanchart Land (20 page)

She had to know. It was hard to verbalize the next question, but being held securely in his arms gave her courage. She pulled back until she could look him in the eyes again.

"Does that mean you're finally willing to forgive me and maybe learning to care about me a little?" she asked softly. "For more than the Hanchart land? For more than a bed partner?"

Their gazes tangled, each searching the other's for a promise of true commitment.

"That means I love you more every day," he managed in a voice rough with emotion.

"Oh, Luke," she cried, her heart leaping with joy. She grasped his face in her hands and pulled him close for a kiss. Then their mouths locked; lips hard and demanding while their tongues danced to an ancient rhythm of love.

They were both breathless when their lips finally parted. "I love you so much!" she cried.

Luke laid his forehead against hers. "Dear God, I don't know what I ever did to deserve your love, but I'm selfish enough to want to keep it forever. Can you forgive me for letting my pride get between us these past few weeks?"

“I thought you were angry and feeling trapped.”

“Trapped in the misery of wanting you but not knowing how to ask you for what I really needed; your trust, your respect, your love.”

Susan thought her heart would pound through the wall of her chest. Wild joy spread through the rest of her body, making her giddy with relief.  “You’ve had them all for a very long time.”

“Promise me forever,” he demanded, nibbling at her lips.

"You don't have any choice," she murmured back. "You're stuck with me now."

"You were going to leave me."

"Only because I so desperately needed your love," she explained softly. "I thought you were growing to hate me. I couldn't bear that, Luke. I had decided I couldn't stay if you didn't really want me."

"I want you," he insisted hoarsely. "Every minute of every day for the rest of our lives. Can you promise me that?"

"I can promise you'll always have my love no matter what the future holds. Nothing is going to change that."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Sealed with a kiss?" he teased, capturing her mouth with his again and wrapping her securely in his arms.

She kissed him and let him carry her to the shower. There was no lack of emotion in the loving they shared.

* * * * *

   Hours later, when dinner was over and everyone had left the house for the night, Luke and Susan finally found themselves alone in the family room.

  She'd showered and slipped on worn cutoff jeans with a white tank top. Her bare feet were curled beneath her on the sofa. Luke had on clean, but faded jeans that rode low on his hips. He'd showered, too, and pulled on a soft blue T-shirt that was equally form fitting. Just looking at him made her pulse accelerate. Every time she thought of somebody trying to kill him, she felt ill.

"It's over," he insisted, watching her from the opposite side of the room. "Don't let it worry you anymore."

Susan lowered her lashes. It was disconcerting to have him reading her mind and witnessing her vulnerability. She couldn't help being upset every time she thought of the events of the afternoon.

"I can't believe Rod Matthews was stupid enough to try to kill you. I've never liked him, but I never thought he was capable of cold-blooded murder. You don't kill someone for firing you."

"That was only part of it," Luke explained. "I let him know I suspected him of conspiring with Shane on that crime spree. I'd warned him about the drinking and drugs, but he didn't listen. He blamed me for all his problems."

Susan shook her bead in disbelief. She hoped they kept Rod locked up for a very long time, and she hoped she never had to re-experience the fear she'd felt when Luke's life was in danger.

"I'm just thankful nobody got hurt,” she said.

Luke's eyes darkened and his voice went low as he moved closer. "I'm thankful I have a wife who's as brave as she is beautiful."

Her heart skipped a beat and her gaze locked with his. The warmth and admiration in his eyes filled her with joy.  "I'm not brave or beautiful."

Luke sat down beside her, scooping her into his lap. "You're everything a man could want."

She searched his face, wanting to believe, but so afraid. "Do you really think that?"

"Really," he whispered, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "I've never been very good at expressing myself, but I want you to know how special I think you are." 

"You're not just saying that?"

 Luke shifted her slightly so he could reach into his pocket. He pulled out a small jewelers box and snapped the lid. She gasped at the beauty of the diamond solitaire tucked into red velvet folds.

His smile was tight, his tone tightly controlled. "Do you like it?" he asked.

She sensed a wealth of insecurity in the question.

"It's gorgeous," she whispered, reaching out to touch the brilliant gem.

"Try it on," he insisted.

Susan slipped the ring from the box and slid it next to her wedding band. It was perfect.

He'd asked her preference about a wedding band before buying one, but never mentioned a diamond. "Did you get it with our rings?" she asked, wondering why he hadn't given it to her after the ceremony.

He hesitated briefly, his eyes searching hers. "I bought it three years ago."

The admission halted her breathing, and then brought a rush of emotions. Guilt and regret warred with warmth and jubilation.

"You were going to ask me to marry you?" she asked softly. It was sad to realize what a horrible mistake she'd made back then, but she couldn't change the past.

"Yeah."

Her eyes searched his. She remembered Caroline's suggestion that John was behind any marriage proposal.

"Why?" she asked, holding her breath.

Luke grasped her hand and drew it to his mouth for a kiss. He brushed his lips over the rings.

His voice was little more than a rough whisper. "Because I fell in love with you the first time I heard you whispering sweet nothings to Mariando. I bought the ring when we started seeing each other. I knew it was too soon, that you didn’t feel the same, but I was so damn sure you were falling for me. In return for my arrogance, fate dealt me a cruel blow with your marriage to Shane. I battled some ugly emotions while you were married to him. It was hard to get past the gut-deep anger and ravaged pride, but I never stopped loving you."

   The simple words were backed up by the adoration in his eyes and sincerity in his tone. For an instant, it was all Susan could do to push air in an out of her lungs. She wanted to bask in the warmth of his eyes.

"Not just because of what happened today? Not just because you want a family or for any other reason except you love me?"

"Just everything about you."

"Promise?"

Luke gave her a lopsided grin. "Promise."

"Forever?" she demanded.

 "Forever."

 "Oh, Luke!"

Then she was locking her arms around his neck and dragging him close for a kiss. Their mouths met in a wild exchange of giving and taking. Several minutes later, he dragged his mouth from hers. "Say the words to me," he insisted.

Susan was high on life and decided to tease him. "You told me not to say them again."

He groaned. "I changed my mind."

"I don't know," she paused for affect. "I don't want to do anything that would upset you."  Another groan rumbled from his chest. "You want me to beg?" he asked, silvery eyes sparkling with challenge.

She pretended to consider the idea. Then his tongue touched her lips in a gentle, provocative little lick. She moaned and caved.

"I love you, love you, love you," she chanted, giving him hard, hungry little kisses to accent the words.

The End

About the Author:  Becky Barker is a multi-published author whose steamy romance novels have been translated into more than a dozen foreign languages, into electronic format, and have been re-issued in trade paperback as well as large print library editions. Her personal hero is a former Marine who helped her create three pretty wonderful children. Rachel and her husband, Jerramy; Amanda and her husband, Jay; and Thad and his wife, Dara, all live within a few miles of Mom and Dad in rural Ohio. Besides spending time with her family, Becky enjoys music, gardening, water sports and reading. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at BeckyBarker.com or by emailing: [email protected]

Other books by Becky Barker:

Bridleton, Undercover Virgin, Back in His Arms, Born To Fly, Captured by a Cowboy, Dangerous, The Cowboy and the Cradle, Impossible Match, The Last Real Cowboy Logan’s Lady, Renegade Texan, Sassy Lady, To Trust Again, Western Dreams, On Wings of Love (reissue), Cade’s Challenge, Terms of Surrender (novella) A Matter of Trust (reissue), Chameleons, Love In The Air (Prescott Pilot anthology), Loving Carlie (novella)