Hanchart Land (6 page)

She carefully studied his face as he concentrated on his self-appointed task. If he was as shaken by the contact as she was, he didn't show it.  "Turn over and I'll do your back," he commanded, his tone low, but completely controlled.  Her expression told him she didn't know if she could bear any more of his erotic attentions, but he ignored the message and gently helped her turn onto her stomach.

She was wide awake now, yet the sensation of floating in a dreamlike state remained with her as his hands worked a similar magic on her shoulders, back, and hips. By the time he'd spread the sunscreen over the backs of her thighs, every nerve ending in her body was quivering with unrestrained excitement.

He grasped her hips and helped her turn so she was facing him again. Susan felt as boneless and limp as a dishrag. She could only stare at him in mute fascination at his effortless manipulation of her senses.  Luke had been hunched down beside her, but stood to his full height and seemed especially tall from her vantage point. He was still dressed in his work clothes but his eyes were hidden from her as he looked down on her.

"Rosa suggested I bring you lemonade and remind you to put on more sunscreen,” he explained.

Apparently, he'd decided to take the housekeeper's suggestions to a higher level. She knew she must look like a wanton at the very least. He'd managed to thoroughly arouse her. The tight swimsuit accentuated her jutting nipples. Her breasts felt swollen and heavy. Her chest rose and fell in heightened excitement.

A glance at his jeans proved he was aroused, too. The telltale bulge was a little disconcerting, sending a ripple of reaction over her. But he remained in firm control of his desires. He’d withdrawn his touch and obviously didn't intend to take his seduction any further, even though she just as obviously wouldn't object.

Her voice, when she tried to speak, was no more than a thready whisper. Pushing up on her elbows, she reached for the lemonade he'd placed on a nearby table. A sip of it helped clear her throat, and she voiced the only coherent thought that came to mind.

"Thank you."  She was thanking him for his unselfish attentions, and for remaining in control when some men would have taken advantage of her vulnerability.

"My pleasure," he told her, though his tone didn't echo the thought. It was deep and tight with tension. “I’d like to take you to bed and finish the job, but it might be best if we wait until we're married. You need to regain some strength."

Was this some form of sensual harassment, Susan wondered? Did he hope to make her want him so badly she'd forget everything else? If so, she had to admit that his efforts were successful. She was aching.  Luke was aching, too, but he was determined to fight the physical need. Kissing and caressing Susan this morning had temporarily thrown him off balance. Her passionate response had created a deep sensual hunger that threatened his control. Caressing her just now had been an exercise in restraint, and a painful one.

It had also proven what he'd always suspected. She was a deeply sensual woman who loved the feel of a man's hands on her body. Her soft moans had been genuine. The sight of her fat, hard nipples pressing against the fabric of her suit was more evidence of her lush sensuality. His body clenched at the thought, and he was suddenly impatient to have things settled between them. He wanted every inch of her naked skin rubbing against his. He wanted their bodies locked together in the most elemental fashion. He wanted to possess her, body and soul.

"Granddad's seventy-fifth birthday party is a week from today. I'd like to be married by then. That way we can announce it to the family and friends all at once. Get it over with and get on with our lives."  Susan was trying to get her wayward emotions under control. It was difficult to concentrate on what he was saying even though she knew it was incredibly important.

"Couldn't we just announce our engagement next Saturday?"

His eyes flared. "You still have doubts?"

"No." Her reply was truthful. Now that she'd made up her mind, she wasn't crazy about delaying the process.

"Then there's no point waiting. I'd like to have Granddad stand up with me, if he's willing, but the rest of the family can find out about it after it's done."  She'd lost contact with most her old school friends and didn't feel close to anyone. "Will I need a maid of honor?"

"You can choose someone to stand up with you, or I can have one of the ranch hands fill in as a witness."

He seemed to have all the details worked out in his mind already. Susan tried to shake off the lethargy his caresses had caused so she could be sure they were on the same wave length. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"Rosa wants a celebration, but I told her it'd have to be a private one. She had a fit when I suggested bringing Judge Anderson out here, but says Reverend Thompson would probably be happy to do the honors. If we have him perform the service, we'll have to attend counseling first," Luke continued. "It's up to you."

She and Shane had been married in the judge's chambers with only his staff as witnesses. This time she wanted to be married by a minister.

"I'd like to ask Reverend Thompson."

Luke nodded his approval. "We can see him after we get blood tests on Monday. As soon as we apply for a license the information goes on public record, not to mention the gossip mill. We'd better do that and have the ceremony Friday evening. We'll hear fewer complaints from everyone if it's official before they hear about it."

Susan agreed. She was suddenly anxious to make their relationship official, but she wasn't looking forward to all the bitterness the union would cause.

Shane's sister, Linda, would undoubtedly be the worst. The other woman had doted on her brother and helped to spoil him rotten. She'd been jealous of Susan, then devastated by Shane's unexpected illness and death at the age of twenty-five.

Now she would be furious by a remarriage, especially to Luke. Like Shane, she'd believed her brother deserved more power and control within the family, even though he'd never done anything to earn it.  "Linda won't be shy about verbalizing her objections," she said aloud. "Even if she understands it's mainly to keep Hanchart land intact."

He didn't deny it. "She'll raise hell, but not publicly," he told her. "She's too concerned about the family's image. She'll tell everyone you were so devastated by Shane's death that you married me on the rebound." His tone had gone from indifferent to bitter. He was a proud man, and she supposed his ego would take a beating, but most people would understand his desire to protect his birthright.

"You're probably right. She'll need to explain why I remarried without at least a year of mourning. She'll tell her friends I couldn't bear to leave his home, that I'm trying to hang on to his memory, the Hanchart name, and social status."

That suggestion brought a tightening to Luke's already taut expression. Did he think the Hanchart name was all-important to her? Did he think she was marrying him on the rebound? Because she missed Shane so desperately? How important was it to let the truth be known? She didn't want to explain her relationship with Shane to him or anyone else.

"I do love this ranch," she wanted to clarify her position, feeling she owed him that. “But my decision to go through with the marriage has nothing to do with Shane or the family's social status. Can you believe that?"

He continued to stare into her eyes. Susan wasn’t sure what he hoped to find, but it was clear he doubted her motives, as well.  "I guess time will tell, won't it?"

"Time will tell what?" John Hanchart was joining them on the deck from the patio area. He'd overheard the end of the conversation and interrupted them with a question of his own. He looked from one to the other. "What will time tell us?"

Luke's grandfather was tall and straight in posture with a head of thick, snow-white hair. His face was a road map of age lines, but his eyes were still as keen as his grandson's. They missed very little.

"Hi, Susan. It's a surprise to see you relaxing for a change." His smile of welcome was genuine. It probably shocked him to see her lounging by the pool, but he was too much the gentleman to question her. "A pleasant surprise." He said, being another member of the ranch family who frequently told her she worked too hard.

She sat up and swung her legs to the deck, but when she started to rise from the chaise, he waved her back down. "Don't get up on my account. Rosa says you had a bad spell and need to rest."

"Rosa's a mother hen." John gave her a wink. “True, but she also knows everything that goes on around the place, so I never question her assessments.”

"Rosa's right," added Luke. "Susan's under doctor's orders to slow down and get some rest."

"Make's sense to me," John decided, tossing his towel on a nearby chair. "So what will time be telling us?"  Luke glanced at her, and then turned more fully toward his grandfather. "Susan and I have decided to get married as soon as we can arrange a ceremony. It won't be a popular decision with the rest of the family, but they'll have to get used to the idea whether they like it or not."

John's eyes narrowed as he studied the two of them, obviously considering all the ramifications of a union between them. Then he offered a short, terse lecture. "I can see where marriage would provide a practical solution to your problems, but I hope you're not going into it with the intention of divorcing when it's convenient.

"There's never been a divorce in the Hanchart family,” he continued. “There've been lots of different reasons for marriages over the generations, but once a commitment was made, it was upheld," he declared. "Marriage is a serious, lifetime commitment. Are you just sealing a business agreement or are you planning to have a real marriage?"

"Real." They chorused in unison.

John scrutizined them both a little longer, and then seemed satisfied with what he saw. "In that case, you've got my blessing," he said. His tone lightened and his eyes took on a devilish gleam. "I'll even dance at the wedding." Susan could almost feel Luke relax. She knew although he was a powerful man in his own right, he respected his grandfather and wanted his support.

"I'll need a best man," he added quietly, his eyes warming as they met John's. "Think you could do the honors?"

For just an instant, Susan was certain the older man would be overcome with emotion. Moisture gathered in his eyes, but he swiftly blinked it away. Then his grin grew wide and he threw an arm around Luke's shoulders. "Damn, boy, you know I've been trying to marry you off for years. You bet I'll be your best man. I'll come with bells on."

She smiled as the men gave each other a rare hug. Then John's gaze pivoted to her. "I hope this boy of mine told you I want about ten great-grand babies." Susan felt herself blushing clear to the roots of her hair, but she managed to return his teasing, "Actually, he mentioned a dozen, but these things take time."

John roared with laughter and slapped Luke on the back. She was thrilled to see it bring a smile to Luke’s face. He wasn’t a handsome man by most standards, but his smile softened his roughly hewn features and made her catch her breath. With his grandfather, he seemed younger, more carefree and relaxed. There was no problem communicating or a noticeable generation gap.

Is that the type of family man he was? Tough as nails when it was necessary, but soft as a marshmallow when it came to those he loved? The thought brought a yearning in her so intense it hurt. Her chest tightened. What would it be like to be loved by such a man? To be the center of Luke's attention?

    Did she dare even wonder? If she allowed herself to dream, it might only bring more heartache. Dreams had a way of going astray.

"What about you, Susan? Who'll stand up with you?" John asked.

She glanced at Luke. "Do you think Rosa would mind?" The men shared a grin. "Do babies cry?" John teased. "That woman loves any reason to celebrate. She's spent the last month planning a surprise birthday party for me. I don't want one, of course, but I hate to disappoint her."

Susan grinned. "If it's a surprise party, you're not supposed to know about it."

"It's hard not to know when she's had one every year for the last twenty. I keep complaining, and she keeps on doing just what she wants. Says she needs to be busy, and I need coddling. Says it's a family tradition. Maybe now that you're coming to stay, she'll leave me in peace."

Susan's laughter was light and musical, charming both men with the sweet rarity of it. "I'm sure she's capable of coddling both of us."

"I suppose," he grumbled. "She'll be out here any minute now wondering if we have something cold to drink, if we remembered to use sunscreen, or if we need a snack to sustain us until dinner."

John had his own small house a mile down the road, but he usually took his evening meal with Luke. He swore Rosa would smother him if he didn't keep his distance for the rest of the day. "I have to get back to work," Luke told them. "The two of you can deal with Rosa yourselves. I’ll see you at dinner."

"Why don't you change into some trunks and swim with us a while," John asked him. "The work'll still be there later."

"Can’t do it. I just came in to get a thermos of tea for the men," Luke explained. "Rosa'll have it ready by now."

"Suit yourself," said his grandfather, "but you won't find better company than ours, will he, Susan?" She tactfully avoided answering the question. "I'm finding the water pretty hard to resist, myself. I think I'll get in and cool off a little."

"Just remember to stay in the shade when you're done," Luke warned, his eyes following her long-legged saunter to the edge of the pool. "You're already starting to get pink."

"I'll remember." She tossed over her shoulder before making a clean, graceful dive into the water. The two men watched as her head surfaced, and she began to swim with long, sure strokes. "She's one hell of a woman," John told his grandson. "I've watched her work around here, and she's a natural with the horses. She's smart and dependable and trustworthy.”

 "That’s a strong recommendation coming from an old bachelor like you."