Читать книгу In the Arms of the Rancher: In the Arms of the Rancher / His Vienna Christmas Bride - Jan Colley - Страница 11

Taking Kate’s elbow, Hawk steered her to the first parking space in the parking lot. Noting the makeshift Reserved sign tied to the light pole in one corner of the lot, Kate raised an eyebrow and looked up at him.

Hawk grinned at her. “It’s good to be the king,” he declared quoting from an old Mel Brooks movie.

The car he guided her to was midsize. After she was seated, Kate watched, a slight smile on her lips, as he crammed his long body into the seat behind the wheel. Settled in, he slanted a look at her.

“This king needs a bigger carriage.”

“You do appear a bit cramped in that seat.”

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “You have no idea.” He heaved a put-upon sigh. “At home I drive a big-boy truck, with a large seat and lots of legroom.”

“This car is easier to fit into a parking space,” she said.

“Granted, but…” He smiled at her, smugly, as he started the engine. “I don’t have to park it. I’m going valet.” He paused an instant before adding in a gotcha tone, “So there.”

Kate lost it. Her laughter poured out of her with genuine amusement. She couldn’t recall the last time she had laughed so hard, with such ease. It was even better that Hawk was laughing right along with her.

As promised, he drove them to the valet parking at one of the casino hotels. The show, by a comedian Kate had never heard of before, was in one of the smaller entertainment rooms. The room was already full when they were escorted to their table just ahead of the burst of applause as the comedian strolled onto the stage.

The man wasn’t merely funny; he was hilarious., .and he worked clean. He didn’t tell jokes. He told life, everyday things that just about every person in the room could relate to and appreciate.

The few times Kate shifted a quick glance at Hawk during the show, she found him laughing, too. One time he winked at her.

A simple wink, and yet it made Kate feel warm all over. Silly woman, she chided herself.

Now, the show over, Kate moved to get up. Hawk stopped her with a shake of his head. “Want to go into the casino, play awhile before we leave?” he asked.

Kate hesitated. Then, remembering this was one of Jeff’s favorite gambling sites, she shook her head. “Not tonight. I hurt from laughing,” she said, smiling at him to soften her refusal. “He was very funny.”

“Yes, he was,” Hawk agreed, leading her outside. He handed over his parking ticket to the valet before adding, “And you’re a lousy liar.”

Kate opened her mouth, but before she could utter a protest, he said, “No insult intended.”

“What would you call that remark?” Kate didn’t attempt to conceal her annoyance.

The valet area was crowded with people waiting for their vehicles. Hawk moved closer to her. “Kate,” he said, his voice low, private, “I’m not unconscious. I saw the flicker in your eyes when you uttered that lame excuse. For some reason of your own, you don’t want to go near that casino.” He raised one dark brow. “Care to tell me why?”

He stood there, so close to Kate that she could smell his cologne and the pure masculine scent of him, and the tang of wine on his breath, teasing her lips. It played havoc with her nervous system.

“No?” He smiled.

She smiled, surrendering to his smile. “It’s a silly thing, I guess,” she said, sighing. “I didn’t want to go in there, because that is one of Jeff’s favorites.” She shrugged. “I prefer not to run into him.”

The instant she finished speaking, as if she had conjured him up, Jeff’s practiced, cultured voice sent shivers of revulsion through her.

“Well, Kate. Beautiful as ever,” he said, his voice and smile much too smooth. “Imagine seeing you here. I thought you didn’t like the casinos.” He acted as though Hawk wasn’t there.

“You thought a lot of things, Jeff,” she returned, her voice as cool as she could make it. “Most of them wrong…no, all of them wrong.”

Jeff’s pale blue eyes went cold; his smooth voice grew a jagged edge. “Not all of them.” A leer twisted his lips as he ran a quick look over her. “I wasn’t wrong about your response in the bed…”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Hawk interjected in a menacing drawl, sliding one arm around Kate’s waist. “The car’s here, Kate.”

Relief washed through her, but only for a moment. Jeff caught her by the arm, keeping her from moving away with Hawk. She stiffened, angry and embarrassed.

Jeff glared up at Hawk. And up was the word, as Hawk had a good six inches on the man. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he demanded.

“I don’t think who I am,” Hawk said. “I know who I am. And I don’t want to know you.” His drawl vanished, a soft warning taking its place. “Now, little man, take your hand off my lady.”

“Little man! Your…your lady…” Jeff sputtered in anger. “You dare—”

Hawk sighed. “I. Dare. Anything.” He enunciated very softly. “Now, back it up, buster, before I’m tempted to get real nasty.”

To Kate’s near amazement, Jeff took a step back, looking not at all like a cock of the walk, which was how he regularly portrayed himself. She watched him stare narrow-eyed at them as Hawk helped her into the car. But he blinked and took another step back as Hawk turned to stare back at him.

Although Kate couldn’t see Hawk’s face, she thought his expression must have looked meaner than hell, for turning on his heel, Jeff quickly strode back into the casino.

Turning her head, Kate watched, expecting to see a man ready to explode with anger, as Hawk came around the car and slid behind the wheel. To her utter surprise, she saw the brightness of inner laughter in his eyes and a grin on his rugged face. Amusement danced in his voice.

“I bluff at poker, too.”

It started as a chuckle from Kate and developed into full laughter. “You’re something else,” she said, her laughter subsiding.

“Oh, lady, you don’t know the half of it.” Hawk slid his glance from the wheel after starting the car to toss a smile at her.

The tension of the previous minutes drained from Kate’s body, leaving her relaxed and comfortable. For the first time since throwing Jeff, cursing and arguing, out of her apartment, and her life, she felt at ease in the company of a man.

Kate couldn’t quite decide if that was good or not. She knew too well that being at ease with a man was not the same as trusting one. At this point in time, she wasn’t sure she would ever again be able to trust a man, any man. It was sad, really, that one nasty male…She gave a mental shake. Forget him, she thought. He wasn’t worth the effort it cost her to dwell on him. Resting her head back, she allowed her thoughts to drift.

They drove for several minutes, Kate content and mellow, before Hawk broke the mood.

“Er…Kate, are we going to drive around aimlessly for the rest of the night, or are you going to tell me where you live?”

Kate knew the mood was too good to last. “I parked my car at Vic’s,” she said, straightening from her near lounging position.

“Um,” he murmured, making a turn at the next intersection. “We’re a little past his restaurant.”

Kate gave him a startled look before glancing around at the area. She frowned when she didn’t recognize where they were. “How little?”

A smile twitched the corners of his mouth. “Oh, only a couple miles or so,” he said. “You looked so comfortable, I hated to mention it. Fact is, I wasn’t certain you were awake.”

She felt her cheeks grow warm and was glad for the dark interior of the car. “I wasn’t sleeping but I was drifting a bit. It must be the wine.”

“All two glasses of it,” Hawk drawled. Then he sobered. “Were you thinking about that clown who was giving you a hard time?”

“His name is Jeff,” she said, tossing off the name as if it didn’t matter, and it truly didn’t.

“He grabbed your arm.” His voice had changed. It was now close to a growl, almost scary. “And if he tries something like that again, touches you again when you’re with me, his name will be sh—er—mud.”

She had to chuckle at his quick word switch. “I do know the word, Hawk.”

“I know. Everybody does.” He shrugged. “My father is a stickler for speaking politely in front of or to a lady. I feel the same way he does.”

“That’s nice.” Kate said as he drove into the restaurant parking lot. He came to a stop next to her car in the otherwise empty lot.

Unfastening the seat belt, she turned to face him, offering her hand for him to shake. “Thank you, Hawk, for a lovely evening.”

Although he took her hand, he shook his head. “I’m following you home, Kate.”

“But…”

That was as far as he allowed her to get. “It’s late, so I’ll follow you and make sure you’re safely inside.” His voice was firm; he would brook no argument.

Shaking her head, she sighed and didn’t argue. She got out of his car and into her own. True to his word, Hawk stayed on her tail, nearly tapping her bumper, until she pulled into the parking area of her apartment complex.

Once again he parked next to her. He got out of his car as Kate stepped from hers.

“I’ll see you to the door,” he told her.

“Really, Hawk, it’s not necessary,” she protested. She might as well have saved her breath. Without replying, he strolled beside her to the entranceway.

“Thanks again, Hawk,” she said once more offering her hand to him.

“You’re welcome.” He took her hand and used it to gently draw her close to him. “Will I see you again?”

“Yes,” was all Kate was capable of saying due to her suddenly dry throat.

“Tomorrow evening?”

She swallowed, hesitated before repeating, “Yes.”

“Good.” A mixture of relief and satisfaction colored his voice. “I’ll pick you up here at seven-thirty, okay? We’ll do something fun.”

She nodded, her heart skipping when he raised his hand to cradle her face, his thumb slowly stroking her cheek. “That creep was right about one thing, Kate,” he murmured, gently lifting her chin with the heel of his hand. “You are one very beautiful woman.”

Now Kate’s heart wasn’t skipping; it was thundering.

“Hawk…I…”

“Shh,” he murmured, lowering his head to hers. “It’s all right. I won’t hurt you.” His breath whispered over her lips an instant before his mouth brushed over her mouth in what was not a kiss, but more a promise. “Good night, Kate.” He stepped back. “Now, go inside and lock up.”

Barely breathing and not thinking at all, Kate went inside, unlocked the lobby door and ran up the stairs to her second-floor apartment, completely forgetting the elevator.

As Hawk slid behind the wheel of the rental, he glanced up at the building just as lights went on in the second-floor front apartment.

Staring at the glow through the sheer curtains on the windows, Hawk propped his elbows on the steering wheel.

Kate.

Surprisingly, as his lips had barely touched her own, there was still a shimmering trace of her taste on his mouth, an unfamiliar twinge in his chest. He rather liked it. Smiling as a shiver raced up his spine, Hawk switched on the engine and drove back to the hotel he’d booked on the Vegas Strip.

Not twenty minutes after leaving his car key with the valet, Hawk was in bed, lost in fantasies of Kate, her lithe, equally naked form close to his.

Hawk woke suddenly, his skin chilled beneath a fine film of perspiration. He was cold, hot and frustrated. He hadn’t even realized he’d fallen asleep, only to suddenly awaken right at the most intense part of his fantasy dream. He was aching with need.

Knowing he had to take drastic measures to cool the passion pouring through him, he dragged his body from the bed and headed for the bathroom.

Damn, he hated cold showers.

Kate stood at a side window, one hand flicking the curtain aside an inch or so. Gliding her tongue over her lips, she watched until she could no longer see the car.

She could taste him.

Ridiculous, Kate told herself and let the curtain fall back into place. That mere brush of his mouth over hers had been the furthest thing from a kiss she had ever experienced. She walked to the bedroom. Why in the world would she think she could taste him? Testing, she again slid her tongue along her bottom lip and snivelled.

No, it wasn’t ridiculous; she really could taste him, and she liked the taste very much. Kate feared that a real deep kiss from Hawk could very likely be addictive…like rich dark chocolate.

A real deep kiss from Hawk. She replayed the thought inside her head. Swallowing to moisten her suddenly parched throat, she began to undress, her hands fumbling with the simple routine. She mumbled a mild curse to herself.

She had just managed to remove her blouse when the phone rang.

Hawk? Kate froze, her heart beating wildly. It rang again. Not bothering to look at the caller ID, she snatched it up, nearly dropping it. Drawing a quick breath in an attempt to keep a tremor from her voice, she said, “Hello.”

“Who was he?” Jeff snarled.

Kate went cold and stiff. “That is none of your business.” She wouldn’t so much as say his name.

“Yes, it is,” he snapped back at her. “You’re mine and you know it.”

“I never was yours,” she said icily. “And I broke up with you months ago, as you well know.”

“You were in a snit.” He was back to the snarl. “And—”

“No,” she said, cutting him off. “You were being verbally and emotionally abusive…again.”

“I’m not giving up, Kate. I know you love me.” His voice was suddenly soft, cajoling, “I’ll get you back.”

“I’ve been patient up until now, Jeff,” she stated flatly, finally saying his name, anger stirring in her voice. “If you bother me again, I’ll report you to the police. And this time I mean it.”

“Sure,” he said in honeyed tones. “You mean it every time, which only tells me you don’t mean it.”

Kate drew a deep breath in an attempt to control her anger. How in the world had she ever thought that syrupy tone was attractive? Now it repulsed her. He repulsed her.

“I have only three words for you, Jeff,” she began.

“Yeah, I know,” he replied smoothly, interrupting her. “Like I told you, you love me.”

“Go to hell.” She hung up on him.

Kate stood trembling, staring warily at the phone as if it might attack her.

Damn him. Damn him. Damn him.

She had had enough. Tomorrow morning she would see a lawyer about reporting him to the authorities and would take out a restraining order against him.

Although Kate had never done so before, in case there happened to be an emergency in her family, she was so uneasy that she disconnected the landline and turned off her cell.

After she was ready for bed, she still felt shaken by the call and so she checked the locks on the front door, even though no one could go beyond the lobby without a card key. Then she double-checked the locks on the patio door and on every window.

Kate lay in bed for some time, unable to sleep. When she finally drifted off, she drifted right into a dream. Not of Jeff and fear, but of Hawk and unbelievable pleasure.

He came to her softly, murmuring of the exciting delights to be found in the joining of their bodies. She sighed in her sleep, her body moving in sensual restlessness.

She wanted, needed, ached for his touch, the feel of his mouth taking passionate control of hers, for his hard body possessing, owning, her own.

Kate woke, trembling, quivering deep inside her body, her breathing harsh and uneven. She kicked the covers away from her perspiration-slicked body. Never had she had a dream so real, so vivid that it actually brought her close to release in her sleep.

Her breathing slowly returning to normal, she sat up, staring into the dimness of her bedroom, her mind and senses still reeling.

While it was true that it had been some time since she had been intimate with a man—she would not think his name—it seemed unreal to Kate that a dream of a man she had so recently met and knew practically nothing about, not simply a dream of a fantasy man, could affect her to her very core. Her thoughts ebbed as sleep claimed her once more.

To her surprise, Kate woke later refreshed, if still a bit anxious.

What was with her, anyway? Kate asked herself, musing on her unusual reaction to Hawk. Yes, he was extremely attractive and fun to be with, not to mention sexy as hell. But he was just another man…wasn’t he?

Shying away from the thought, Kate centered her attention on the business at hand. Going to the phone, she reconnected the landline and dialed Vic’s home number.

Lisa was happy to oblige with the name of a good attorney, as she had been after Kate to swear out a restraining order against Jeff ever since Kate had thrown him out of her apartment.

Minutes later, Kate had an appointment for the next morning with the attorney Lisa had recommended, an older-sounding man named Edward Bender. It was a start.