Marry in Haste... (12 page)

Was that possible? Had she fallen in love with Reed the night she'd met him?

Reed had been waiting up for her again, and they'd spoken briefly about their plans for today. But she'd remembered all too well what had almost happened under the stars and moonlight up at the line shack. They avoided getting too close to each other as if an inadvertent touch or a brush of skin would tip the scales and they'd fall into a passion that would only complicate their lives even more.

As Mallory approached the training arena, she spotted a truck and trailer parked not far from the airplane hangar door. Hearing voices, she went inside thinking Reed had probably come in here to get out of the hot sun.

A man wearing a gray Stetson and looking about the same age as Reed was standing in the center of the arena with Reed and a little girl who couldn't have been more than ten. Sticking close to the man's side, the little girl seemed to be afraid of the chestnut mare that Reed held the reins to. The man was telling Reed, “Carrie's not used to horses. We lived in town until about a month ago when I finally bought a place with some land. That's why I called Mr. Fortune. I wanted a horse that would be easy for her to handle.”

“This mare's as gentle as they come,” Reed responded. He crouched to Carrie's eye level. “Her name's Nita, and she's just waiting for you to get to know her.”

Carrie didn't look convinced.

With a gentle smile Reed asked, “Can you tell me what you're afraid of?”

“She's so big.”

He didn't laugh at the little girl, but nodded in agreement. “Yes, she is. Much bigger than you. But if you really get to know her, she can become one of your best friends. Then she won't seem so big at all. When you're riding her, it will seem as if you're ten feet tall. If you learn how to act around her and what to do, it won't matter that she's so big.”

Stepping away from her father just slightly, Carrie asked Reed, “Can I pet her?”

He straightened. “Sure, you can. C'mon over here
and I'll let you feel her nose. It's really soft. But you have to be very gentle so you don't frighten her.”

“
Me
scare
her?
”

“She might seem big to you, but she's really very shy. If you look into her eyes, you can see that.”

Mallory's chest tightened as she listened to Reed talk to the little girl and introduce her to the mare. Apparently he was as gentle and patient with children as he was with the horses, and she realized he'd make a wonderful father.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but eventually Carrie agreed to sit in the saddle to see how it felt. Letting Reed lift her up onto the leather, she grabbed on to the pommel. But he told her to pretend she was sitting in her favorite chair at home, a rocking chair, and then he started walking the horse slowly.

Mallory slipped out of the arena so as not to disturb them. Each day she spent with Reed she found something more to admire about him, some new strength she hadn't seen before, and she was suddenly very angry at the woman who had broken off her engagement with him so cavalierly. Was she crazy? Yet she couldn't have been. She must have had some magnificent qualities or been absolutely beautiful for Reed to have been in love with her. That thought was so upsetting that Mallory decided to stop to see if Lily was at home. They could set a date to go shopping again, and maybe she'd be able to think about something other than the man who was her husband in name only.

In no time at all, an hour had flown by as Mallory and Lily envisioned the new furniture they had or
dered and the fabrics they had chosen for the suite of rooms Lily was redecorating. They made a date to go shopping to pick up decorative items, potteries, sculptures and a few scatter rugs. When Rosita called Lily to the phone, Mallory sipped iced tea in the sitting room that was part of the master suite and much cozier than the great room. A few moments later Lily returned from the bedroom, looking puzzled.

“Is something wrong?” Mallory asked.

“The florist has a delivery for you, but he said he had strict instructions to make the delivery to the cabin.”

Mallory rose to her feet. “Maybe Dawson sent them to surprise me.”

“Or Reed,” Lily suggested with a wink.

Only in her dreams, Mallory thought. “Is the delivery person there now?”

“Yes, he said he'd wait for you.”

After Mallory confirmed the time she'd meet Lily to go shopping on Tuesday, she hurried and drove to the adobe. A large delivery truck sat out front. She parked and took out her new key, opened the door and flicked off the security alarm. The delivery man, who looked to be in his twenties, carried a box of long-stemmed roses, she supposed, and a huge arrangement of tiny orchids and ferns.

“Two?” she asked when he came to the door.

“A lot more than two, ma'am. I've got a whole truckful.”

Mallory suspected the worst as he brought the flowers inside. As he went back to the truck, she took the lid from the roses, beautiful red ones, and picked up the card that lay on top of the tissue.

Mallory's heart sank as the delivery man brought bouquet after bouquet into the adobe. There were ordinary flowers such as carnations and daisies, but then there were some beautiful delicate ones in unusual colors that she knew must be exotic. At least fifteen bouquets filled the cabin with their rich fragrance and beauty. After tipping the young man, she put her hands on her hips and looked around.

Winston apparently thought he could flatter her and buy her, making her forget what he'd tried to do. Well, she wasn't about to forget, and she knew he wasn't the type of man she wanted to marry. Not with her feelings for Reed growing so strong. Not with her respect and admiration for him mounting every day. She wished she could send the flowers back to Winston, but that was impossible. She needed to think about what to do next. Donate the flowers to a hospital, for one thing. Deciding what to do about Winston was another. Maybe if she got a shower and then made supper, a brilliant idea would come to her and she could convince Winston they needed to go their separate ways.

 

Quitting a little earlier than usual, Reed had decided to ask Mallory to go out to dinner with him. Hopefully she hadn't started supper yet. If she had, afterward, they could go for a ride. Unlocking the
door, he was glad to see she was using her common sense and keeping the adobe secure. But as he stepped inside, the scent of flowers hit him and he saw the many bouquets. He almost forgot to switch off the security alarm, but he flipped it just in the nick of time. A knot twisted in his stomach as he went toward one of the bouquets and lifted out the card, which read, “Always, Winston.” Bouquet after bouquet had the same card placed in it.

Reed swore long and hard, jealousy ripping his gut. Could Bentley win her back? He was good-looking in a polished sort of way. He apparently knew how to overwhelm a woman, and Mallory
had
said yes to his marriage proposal.

She didn't even remember
their
marriage ceremony in Reno. Sure Bentley was dangerous, but some women liked danger. Reed swore again. Just as he thought about dumping all the flowers outside, or better yet onto a manure pile, he heard the bathroom door open. Going to the bedroom, he demanded, “What the hell is all this?” He knew he shouldn't be angry with her but he was green with jealousy.

Mallory's hair was wet, and she obviously thought she'd be alone in the cabin because she was wearing only a peach towel tucked in at her breasts. The impact of her beauty wrapped around Reed and aroused him, his heart pounding harder as he waited for her explanation.

“He's trying to win me back. His card said he was waiting for me.”

“And
is
he winning you back?” Reed asked roughly.

“No! Ten roomsful of flowers won't make me forget what Winston did or what he is. He—”

Knowing he was stepping into dangerous territory, knowing he was breaching a boundary, Reed stepped closer to her. “I suppose he showered you with flowers while you were engaged?”

“Yes,” she murmured.

“And gifts?”

“Yes,” she murmured again.

Clasping her bare shoulders, he demanded, “Did you bring any of them with you?”

Her hazel eyes locked on his. “No, I didn't. When I left San Francisco, I knew I was finished with Winston.”

The desire that had pulsed between them from the moment they'd met became a power greater than both of them. He could deny it no longer. Reed pulled her to him and his lips came down on hers in a hard, crushing kiss. She'd become sunlight to him, sunrise and sunset…and so many changing colors that she made his head spin. Was she truly finished with Winston Bentley IV or would he manage to call her back to him and convince her she belonged in a different life than she wanted to build here?

Reed didn't care. Not with her in his arms. Not with the sweet scent of her seeping into him. Not with her lips responding under his. Not with her hands reaching for his shoulders.

Scooping her up into his arms, he carried her to the bed where she'd lain night after night all alone. He'd wanted to go to her…seal their bodies together in an intimacy they'd never forget. Now he would
make it so good for her she'd want to remember these moments forever!

He broke the kiss to gaze into her eyes again, to make sure she didn't want to run from him as she wanted to run from Bentley. “We can't deny this, Mallory. We can't deny
us
any longer. It's too powerful.”

“Much too powerful,” she whispered, never taking her eyes from his.

Taking that as consent, he laid her on the bed and his hand went to the place where she'd tucked in her towel. “I want to look at you and touch you and make you tremble until you want me as much as I want you.”

When she reached up to him, she stroked his jaw, and he realized
he
was the one who was shaking. He'd never felt this way with a woman, never wanted to please her so thoroughly she'd beg for him to do it again. But Mallory was so special….

A virgin, he reminded himself once more.

He had to take this slow. He had to do it right. He had to arouse her desire until her pleasure outweighed any pain. Unfastening her towel, he brushed it away.

She was perfect. The tan on her arms was golden from her time in the sun but the rest of her body was a peach-ivory porcelain that looked almost too delicate to touch.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

He held his breath for a moment to maintain control. “Nothing's wrong. But…has a man ever touched you before?”

“Not in the way you're going to touch me,” she replied simply.

Lord, he was hotter than he wanted to be. “I should take a shower.”

“You had one this morning,” she said with a shy smile.

“Yes, but—”

Her fingers went to his shirt buttons and unfastened them. “I want you just the way you are.”

If he'd had any thoughts of turning back, they fled. He didn't wait for her to finish unbuttoning but did it himself in record time, then stripped off his boots, socks, jeans and briefs. She was looking at him with such vulnerable innocence. He lay beside her and kissed her. When his tongue traced her lips, she moaned and opened her mouth. He swept it and deepened the kiss, needing her to respond. Her tongue stroked his as her arms circled him and her hands explored his back. He was going to explode. But first he had to make sure she would burst into flame with him.

Shifting to his side, his hand settled on her waist. His thumb stroked up and down until she sidled closer, seeking more body contact. But if that happened, he'd be a goner.

Yet he didn't want to discourage her in any way. Sliding one of his hands between them, he teased her breast.

“Reed!”

“What?” he asked gently.

“You're…”

He palmed her breast and smoothed a finger around her nipple. “What am I doing?” he asked as he dropped a few kisses on her throat and pushed her hair back with his jaw, nibbling on her ear.

“You're…making me crazy.”

He chuckled. “How about excited…aroused…”

“Those, too,” she murmured.

Bending his head to her breast, his tongue rimmed her nipple and she quivered. When he did it again, her hands dipped to his buttocks to urge him toward her. He knew what she wanted but didn't know if she was ready. As he took her nipple into his mouth, she let out a small cry and her knee grazed him. He caught her leg and nudged it over his hip. Then he ran his hand up her thigh…stroking, caressing, making her more restless.

“Reed, what should I do?” she asked breathlessly.

“You're doing it,” he rasped, sucking in a deep breath, restraining his desire until he was sure about hers.

Then he touched her.

F
rom the moment Mallory had gazed into the mysterious, mesmerizing desire in Reed Fortune's eyes, she'd known she wanted him to make love to her. No man had ever made her feel so feminine or protected or excited, and the touch of his hands created a longing in her so deep it terrified her. His fingers had performed magic wherever they'd touched, and her body still trembled. Now as he caressed her thigh and found the center of her longing, tears came to her eyes. She wanted him there, inside her, and she wanted to give him everything she was.

But when she reached for him, he said in a hoarse murmur, “Wait a minute. I have to protect you.”

The thought briefly passed through her mind that she didn't want to be protected from him, but before she could even open her eyes, he was back, rising above her, his heat becoming her heat, his desire hers.

“Trust me,” he whispered right before he kissed her and took her arousal to an even higher pitch.

She wasn't sure what he meant. Thoughts swirled away into sensations as his tongue danced with hers, as his fingers touched her so intimately that she arched up to meet his hand, wanting something and needing it, not even sure what it was. When she felt him against her, she instinctively raised her hips to
take him. He eased in with excruciating slowness, kissing her all the while. Then in a sparkling flash, he thrust into her and she felt a searing pain. But before it could completely register, he was moving slowly, erotically, causing sensations that had her gripping his shoulders and rocking against him. She became almost frantic with a need so powerful she knew she'd never want to feel it with anyone else. She knew she could never feel it
for
anyone else.

She loved Reed Fortune, and as her body strove to tell him how much, waves of sensation overtook her…pleasure so ecstatic she cried his name and dug her nails into his back. While she held on to him, he sank into her deeper and deeper and deeper until his release made him shudder again and again. His breathing was ragged, and as he finally took a deep breath and rolled to her side, she opened her eyes and looked at him.

They gazed at each other for long moments, slowly coming back to earth. Reed stroked her hair and tenderly caressed her cheek.

She was still lost in what had happened, thinking about how wonderful it had been, when she saw a change come over him.

His eyes no longer smiled at her, but became shuttered. His jaw became set. After he moved away from her a few inches and dropped his hand to his side, he cleared his throat.

She had a sense of foreboding that he was going to say something practical, something she didn't want to hear.

“Do you realize what we've done, Mallory? We're
going to have to get a divorce now instead of an annulment.”

The haze of happiness that had overtaken her during their lovemaking quickly cleared as reality hit her broadside. Reed was making it quite clear that this marriage was temporary. How could she have forgotten even for a second that he would be going back to Australia, that he was still probably in love with the woman he'd left there? Just because she loved him didn't mean he felt any more than desire for her.

Embarrassed now, feeling foolish because she'd mistaken passion for something else, she sat up and reached for the robe lying across the corner of the bed. Wrapping her pride around her as well as the robe, she responded, “We can always go to a tropical island somewhere and do it quickly.” Her insides were still shaking, but she wouldn't let him see it. Just as she wouldn't let him see what he meant to her.

His eyes, filled with desire only a few minutes ago, now seemed remote. “That might be the most convenient. Once you're safely in Dawson's care.” Sliding his legs over the side of the bed, he said, “I'm going to get a shower. Do you want to go out to dinner somewhere instead of cooking?”

What she wanted to do was to crawl into a corner and cry. She wasn't the least bit hungry, and the idea of sitting across a table from Reed and making small talk seemed impossible. But nothing was impossible, and she had to convince him that nothing had happened here that she couldn't forget, either. “Dinner sounds fine. Maybe a Tex-Mex place. I'm beginning to like the food here.” She made her voice purposely cheerful.

“Tex-Mex, it is,” he said gruffly, then went into the bathroom.

Mallory dropped her head into her hands as tears welled up and threatened to overflow. But she took a few deep breaths and blinked them away. From now on, she would hide her feelings from Reed. She just prayed that Dawson would finish his out-of-town business more quickly than he planned.

 

Standing at the arrival gate at the San Antonio airport Saturday afternoon, Reed stared at each passenger who came off the plane, wishing Mallory had come with him, wishing Mallory would talk to him in other than the polite voice she'd used since he'd taken her to bed on Monday. They'd been strangers since. That afternoon, in that bed with her, had been more than pleasurable. Afterward, his world had felt changed and he'd been unnerved. She'd given him a gift and he'd accepted it, and then he realized he shouldn't have. San Antonio was a world away from Australia and he couldn't easily stay here, either legally or practically. His family depended on him. So he'd let Mallory put up a protective wall between them and he hadn't tried to break it down.

His gaze still on the gate, he saw his sister first, looking the way she always did—her thick, long blond hair in a braid, her blouse less than starched, her jeans worn and comfortable, and her gray eyes sparkling with their excitement for life. “Reed!” She came running toward him and threw her arms around him. “I missed you.”

Laughing, he squeezed her hard, then leaned back. “Surprised by that, Matilda?” he teased.

“You bet.” She glanced over her shoulder at Griff and Brody. “Maybe we can lock them up someplace while I'm here so I'll have a little fun.”

“Define
fun.
”

“We can start with you introducing me to some real Texas cowboys,” she said.

“Over my dead body,” Griff announced, coming up beside his sister.

“Over two very alive bodies,” Brody added with a smile, and hugged Reed. “You look good, mate. Texas must agree with you.”

Griff stood a little apart, watching as he always did. But he commented, “Or else it's his marriage.”

Reed took a step away from Brody toward Griff, his quieter brother. “I'm glad you could come.” He'd expected one of Griff's secret missions to take him away somewhere and he would have missed this chance to experience Texas and more family.

Griff just gave him a half smile that said he was glad to be here, too.

“So, where is this new bride?” Brody asked, looking around.

Reed had known his family would ask, and he was prepared. “She's working. Lily asked her to redecorate some rooms and they're meeting with a drapery designer this afternoon. She'll be at the ranch when we get there.” At least he hoped she would, but maybe she'd try to avoid his family as well as him.

To change the subject, he asked them all, “How was Los Angeles?” They'd stopped there for a day to take a break from traveling so they wouldn't be exhausted when they reached San Antonio.

“The next time I pass through there,” Matilda answered him, “I'm going to Disneyland.”

He laughed. Matilda always made him laugh. She might be a little wild sometimes, but he liked having her around, and he
had
missed her. As they headed toward the baggage claim, Reed said, “Before I forget, Ryan and Lily are having a cocktail party tomorrow night in your honor. A lot of the family will be there and some of their neighbors.”

“Uh-oh,” Matilda said with a frown. “Does that mean I have to dress up?”

“It wouldn't hurt,” Brody responded with some amusement.

But as always, Griff came to his sister's rescue. “Wear what you want, Matilda. I'm sure nobody will care.”

As they drove to the Double Crown, Brody and Matilda did most of the talking, filling Reed in on everything that had happened at the Crown Peak since he'd been gone. He went over some of the observations he had made about the operation at the Double Crown, and the steps he'd like to take to modernize when he got home, if they could convince their father.

Brody and Matilda had just staunchly agreed to back him up when he pulled up in front of Ryan and Lily's house, relieved to see Mallory's sports car still parked there.

“I like that car,” Matilda said with a gleam in her eye.

Reed just shook his head. “I'll warn Mallory.”

At the door, he introduced the three of them to Rosita, then they went into the great room where Ryan, Lily, and Mallory were chatting. Ryan and Lily
stood and came forward, and greetings were exchanged all around. Then Mallory stepped into the circle and Reed put his arm around her. It was the first he'd touched her since— She seemed to freeze under his arm. But she was smiling as she shook Brody's hand, then Griff's and finally Matilda's. He hoped his sister would watch her tongue. Sometimes she didn't. But she just smiled at Mallory, and it seemed as if the two women were sizing each other up. Mallory, too, wore jeans, though her white peasant blouse looked as if she'd just ironed it.

As Rosita brought them all cool drinks, they chatted for a while. Mallory became involved in a conversation with Matilda and Brody about the horses they raised. She was sitting next to Reed on the sofa, but her skin never brushed his and she focused her attention on his family.

Finally, Lily suggested, “I know you're probably tired from traveling and would like to rest a bit. Why don't I show you to your rooms?”

“Oh, I don't want to rest,” Matilda said. “I want to see the horses.”

“I'll show you around,” Mallory offered.

As Matilda looked at Reed, he just gave a shrug. “Go ahead. I know you keep going from morning till night, and it won't be any different here.”

When Mallory stood, he clasped her arm. She looked at him, and he couldn't tell what she was thinking. “I'll stay and spend some time with Griff and Brody. Lily's invited us to dinner.”

“I'll meet you back here in a little while then.”

He nodded, wishing he could establish a connection between them again…wishing for a lot more.

 

As Mallory walked to the barn with Matilda and told her what she'd been doing with the fillies and colts, she already liked Reed's sister. She was honest and expressive and said pretty much what was on her mind. After she had introduced Matilda to Hank and taken her through the mares' barn, they headed to the training arena.

Stepping inside, Matilda slipped her hands into her jeans' pockets. “Reed hasn't told us very much about meeting you and the wedding. We're all trying to figure out why.”

“It happened so…fast,” Mallory said cautiously.

“That's unlike Reed, too. He doesn't make an important decision without thinking about it first. Usually for a long time.”

“You'll have to ask him,” Mallory responded.

Matilda gave her a speculative look.

The arena was empty for the time being. There wasn't much to see except for the building itself, but Matilda didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. She walked toward the holding stalls to look them over. “So…are there any cute, unmarried cowboys here you can introduce me to?”

Mallory had to think about it, then realized she couldn't answer Matilda. “I don't know.”

Matilda smiled. “You must really be in love with my brother if you're not noticing other men.” Her gaze locked to Mallory's and held it.

“I suppose so,” Mallory said quietly, admitting the truth again to herself, yet knowing she'd have to get over Reed. This week had been torture, trying to avoid him at every turn, making small talk, acting as if nothing had happened. She didn't know how much
longer she could keep it up. At least with Reed's family here, they'd both have a distraction.

Matilda didn't ask any more personal questions as Mallory took her to the yearling pasture and through another barn, introducing her to Dusty Dawn and a few of the other horses. The whole time they chatted easily and then returned to the house. Dinner was enjoyable as they lingered over it, and conversation flowed. Griff had taken a seat next to Mallory, and she found him well-read and interesting to talk to. He drew her out about the trip to Europe she'd taken the summer after her freshman year at college, and she got the impression that he was well-traveled. It was almost eleven when she drove back to the cabin with Reed following her car in his truck. After they had gone inside, he asked, “What do you think of them?”

“They're very nice.”

“You and Griff seemed to be hitting it off.”

“He's a good listener.”

“Yes, he is,” Reed agreed. “But he listens well so he doesn't have to talk about himself.”

When Mallory thought about it, she realized that Griff hadn't shared much personal information at all. “I forgot to tell you that Dawson called this morning. He's coming home Wednesday but then flying out again on Friday. Though he says he'll soon be back for good.”

“I see. I suppose you're happy about that.”

“Very happy,” she said, lifting her chin, glad Reed wouldn't have to feel responsible for her for much longer.

They got ready for bed and didn't say much to each other after that. When she turned off her bedside
lamp, she felt a deep sadness inside her, knowing it wasn't going to go away easily or anytime soon.

 

Observing the guests from her vantage point in the dining room at the hors d'oeuvre table the following evening, Mallory decided the cocktail party was a rousing success. Looking much younger than her twenty-one years in bib overalls and a white T-shirt, Matilda had moved from person to person, getting to know them, involved in animated conversation each time. More than once, Mallory had seen Griff standing apart simply watching everyone else as if he preferred it that way. For the moment she had lost track of Brody and Reed, but it was just as well. She had decided to dress up tonight, really dress. Her strapless violet sheath was an original. The V-bodice was trimmed in black, as was the hem, and her patent leather high heels felt a little strange after she'd been wearing boots and sneakers for so long.