Taste of Passion (Madaris Novels) (6 page)

“There. All done.” He watched as a slow, satisfied smile slid over those same lips when she eased the shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. His guts immediately clenched. He felt a shiver touch his body.

“You okay?” she asked with concern.

“Yeah. Sure. I’m fine.” That was another lie. He wasn’t fine. His body seemed to be on automatic throb around her. Ashton would probably do him in if he had any idea
what thoughts were running through Luke’s mind about everything he’d like to do to his cousin. And they weren’t thoughts that had popped up suddenly. Hell, if he were completely honest then he would admit he’d been attracted to Mac from the first. But he’d been smart enough not to start anything he knew he couldn’t finish. And his only goal in life, his main focus, was staying in good standing with the PRCA and doing everything possible to regain his title this year. One thing he knew for certain was that serious relationships and rodeos didn’t mix. Women had this thing about men being gone away from home most of the time while competing. In the end they tended to see the rodeo as competing for their time and ultimately they became jealous. He didn’t have time for such foolishness. He was not a forever kind of guy and was definitely not looking for a forever kind of woman.rodeo was the only mistress he wanted. Granted, his injuries were a setback but he would not let them get the best of him.

“Your bandage looks fine but you’re going to have to make sure it stays dry when you shower,” Mac said, reeling his attention back in. “It won’t get changed until tomorrow. Now for your pants.”

My pants
?
Is she kidding
?
Does she really think I’m going to let her take them off me
? He forced himself to lean forward to stare into her eyes and said in a tone that could not be misunderstood, “Trust me, Mac, taking off my pants is the last thing you’d want to do right now.”

It wasn’t difficult to hear the catch in her throat when she glanced down at his lap and took note of what he was kindly trying to say. Hell, what did she expect? He was a man. She was a woman. Some things a person couldn’t hide. He had kissed her a couple of days ago so he was well aware of how she tasted. She was standing pretty close so he knew just how she smelled. In his book all those things equaled desire with a capital
D
. It then occurred to him that other than the day she had been with him in his hospital room while Camden had stepped out, this was the
first time the two of them had ever truly been alone. At other times people had been around.

“All right, you can finish things up on your own,” she said, easing back. And he could hear the forced steadiness of her voice. “But at least let me help you with your boots.”

That seemed like a reasonable request, and considering the pain in his leg, it was one he could appreciate. “Okay. Thanks.” He inhaled deeply, thinking the next six weeks here with her should be pretty interesting.

Stooping down, Mackenzie willed her fingers not to tremble as she tugged Luke’s boots off his feet, trying to keep her gaze off his crotch. Was sex all men ever thought about?

She knew the answer to that one rather quickly. No. Some spent their time thinking of ways to be deceitful, and she immediately thought of Lawrence. Knowing it wouldn’t do her any good to dwell on the past, she pushed thoughts of her former boyfriend and his betrayal aside.

Instead she decided to focus her thoughts on Luke. Even though he was not in the best of health the man looked good, but she didn’t want to think about his good looks. The room had gotten quiet. Too quiet. She could feel him staring at her but refused to look up and confirm her suspicions. Instead she decided to start talking.

“Tell me about Camden.”

“What is it you want to know?”

She shrugged. “I can’t help but notice that his eyes are the same shade of gray as your cousin Dex’s.”

She heard him chuckle. “There’s a reason for it. My aunt Marilyn, Dex’s mother, was a Bannister before she married Uncle Jonathan. She has two brothers, Stuart Jr. and Roland. Cam is Stuart’s second oldest. All the Bannisters have charcoal-gray eyes.”

“So in essence Camden is not your cousin. He’s the cousin of some of your cousins,” she said, and glanced up in time to catch Luke’s smile.

“Yes, that’s right. But every once in a while we claim we’re kin on the rodeo circuit, just for the hell of it.”

He didn’t say anything else for a second and then, “I guess it can get kind of confusing trying to keep up with who is a Madaris and who’s not, since my family is so big.”

“Yes, but having a big family has to be nice.”

He chuckled. “And it has its moments. I can remember when I made the decision to become a rodeo rider. All hell broke loose at my parents’ house. All they could think about was that they had sent me to college to become more than just a cowboy. And then they literally freaked out after what happened to Blaylock.”

She knew who he was referring to. Blaylock Jennings, a man in his late sixties, worked as cook, housekeeper, and all-around man at Whispering Pines, Jake Madaris’s huge ranch on the outskirts of Houston. She had heard the story even before meeting Blaylock. He had once been a rodeo star competing on the national circuit until a mean and nasty bull decided to plow into him one night. In the end, like Luke, Blaylock had been rushed to the hospital. But Luke’s injuries were minor compared to what had happened to Blaylock. He hadn’t been quick enough and the bull had bruised one of his kidneys and as a reminder had left a deep, long slash on the side of his face. The slash was now a horrendous-looking scar that got a lot of attention when people saw him for the first time. But once they got to know Blaylock and saw how warm and caring he was, they looked beyond his features. She knew that Jake, his wife Diamond, and their two kids, Granite and Amethyst, simply adored the man.

“How did you get them to look past that?” she asked, thinking what a nightmare it would be to receive a call saying your son or daughter had been injured critically while performing. It was the same call they could have gotten a few nights ago if Luke’s injuries had been more severe.

“I didn’t. It was Uncle Jake, Blaylock, and my cousin Dex who did. They reminded my parents and grandparents of the importance of letting someone go after their dream, no matter what it was. Besides, I’d been trained by
the best. Uncle Jake taught me how to rope a steer while I was still a toddler, starting me off with a calf, and Blaylock taught me the rest. He showed me how not to make the mistakes that he had.”

Mackenzie nodded. “What happened the other night?”

Luke sighed deeply. “Don’t know, but it wasn’t due to a mistake that I made. Someone got careless. And unfortunately for me with the wrong bull. Scar Face and I go way back. We’ve had a face-off a number of times and that damn bull despises me. Its intent was to plow into me in a real good fashion.”

Mackenzie shuddered at the thought. Changing the subject, she asked, “Where did you go to college and what was your degree in?”

He smiled. “Slade, Blade, and I are Morehouse men. It was nice living in Atlanta those four years.”

And she could bet that being such a long way from their homes in Texas without the prying eyes of their families gave them the opportunity to get into plenty of mischief, especially with the all-girls college, Spelman College, so close by. Slade had gotten married last year, but everyone knew that Blade was definitely a ladies’ man.

After removing his last boot and tossing it aside, she straightened up and met Luke’s gaze. “I’ve prepared dinner. Let me know when you’re ready to eat it. You might want to wait and take the pain pills on a full stomach.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

She turned to leave and he called out to her. “Mac?”

She turned back around. “Yes?”

“Thanks for everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Luke.”

“Yes I do.”

She decided not to argue with him. “Okay, then. You’re welcome.”

And when he smiled she felt a pull in her stomach at the same time she felt a weakness in her knees. He didn’t smile a whole lot, but when he did he always managed to bring out the one thing she was trying so hard to ignore
around him. Sexual awareness. The kind that could leave you mesmerized. Unfocused. Emotionally scared.

The latter was what made her pull in a deep breath. She was way out of her league with Luke. The kiss they’d shared a few nights ago had proven that. She didn’t think he was anything like Lawrence, but still. Every once in a while a particular lesson had a greater impact than others, and some things she could never forget.

“I’ll see you later. Call me if you need anything.”

And before he could make another comment that would unnerve her she eased out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

“And you’re absolutely sure that Lucas doesn’t need us?”

Blade leaned against the table as he gazed at the two older women sitting before him. The eldest was his great-grandmother, whom everyone affectionately called “Mama Laverne.” The other was his aunt Carrie, Luke’s grandmother. He was trying to keep his word to Luke and assure them that Luke was doing fine and they didn’t need to go trekking to Oklahoma to see for themselves.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sure. I talked with him again this morning, just moments before he left the hospital. The only thing on his mind was making it to Mac’s house and getting into her bed.”

Blade flinched, decided those words didn’t quite sound right. He definitely hadn’t meant them that way. The last thing he wanted was to give either woman any ideas, whether accurate or otherwise. He gazed at Mama Laverne and Aunt Carrie under hooded lashes to see if they had noted his blunder and was relieved when it appeared they hadn’t.

“I feel a lot better knowing Mackenzie is there with him. She’s a nice girl with a good head on her shoulders,” Mama Laverne was saying.

“But do they get along?” Aunt Carrie asked, wanting to know.

“Better than Clayton and Syneda ever did,” Mama Laverne said up to reassure her.

Blade couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t that his cousin Clayton and his wife Syneda didn’t get along, because they did. In fact, he thought they got along just fine, recalling the many times he’d walked in on them while they were exchanging a hot and torrid kiss. It was that the two of them were attorneys and usually didn’t agree on anything. And because of it, a lot of family gatherings became the scene for their debates.

He pushed away from the table. “I’ll give you both periodic updates since I plan to keep in touch with Luke on a regular basis. And I’ll even go see him for myself this weekend.”

“Thanks, Blade. You’re a good boy,” Mama Laverne said, slowly coming to her feet. “You can get into a lot of devilment with women, like Clayton used to do when he was single, but for the most part, you’re a good boy.”

He chuckled. “Thanks, Mama Laverne.”

“Now I could use a ride over to Christy’s,” Mama Laverne went on to say. “I’m spending the night to help her with the baby while Alexander is out of town. She needs me.”

“I’ll be glad to take you,” he said, grinning. Then to his aunt Carrie, he asked, “What about you? Is there any particular place you’d like to go?”

She smiled over at him. “Yes. I’d like to go home.”

Relief flowed through Blade. The two had caught a ride over to his place with Luke’s brother Reese, surprising the heck out of him. He had just started getting dressed to go out for the evening. Reese had walked them to the door and had hauled ass big-time. No doubt he’d been more than ready to discharge them to Blade’s care.

Blade was grateful they didn’t want him to chauffeur them around the city to visit other relatives. He had a hot date with Lucinda and had no intention of missing it. Nor did he want to be late picking her up. He remembered all
that had happened at her place the last time they’d been together. The woman was as easy as they came, had a number of her own ideas how things should be done in the bedroom, and all of them he more than liked.

“Is there any reason why you’re standing over there smiling, Blade?” Mama Laverne was asking.

He quickly wiped away his smile as he pulled the car keys out of his back pocket. “No, ma’am there isn’t a reason. No reason at all.”

“I have a question for you, Mac.”

Mackenzie glanced across the dinner table at Luke. Although she had tried convincing him to stay in bed and rest for a little longer, after showering, eating the dinner she had prepared, and taking a short nap, he had gotten up and come to sit in the living room with her. She had just finished making notes on a case she’d been working on and had asked if he wanted a slice of the pie she’d baked earlier. When he said that he did, they had moved from the living room into the kitchen.

“What’s your question?” she asked.

“I’ve known you for five years now and I’ve yet to hear about your involvement in a serious relationship. Why?”

His question left her a bit surprised and at the same time wondering how he knew whether or not she was in one. Had he gone so far as to question someone about her? The only person who knew what she was or was not doing in her life was Ashton, and she didn’t see him sharing any information about her to anyone.

She couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps he was playing a guessing game, trying to feel her out for some reason. And if he was, did it really matter? The bottom line was that he was right. She hadn’t been involved in a serious relationship for almost five years. She had moved back to Oklahoma right after things had ended with her and Lawrence. Was it any of Luke’s business as to why?