“I told Rusty I could give her the name of my plastic surgeon if she wanted to have her breasts enhanced,” Claudia said.
Rusty smiled politely. “No, thank you, Claudia.”
“Her breasts are fine the way they are,” Luke said, not realizing he was speaking aloud until the words were out. Clearing his throat, he dipped lower into the water and forced himself to relax.
Rusty took a seat between him and Lehman and let out an exhausted sigh. “This feels wonderful, Brad. Thanks for inviting us.”
“The recovery is quick, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” Claudia went on, her gaze focused on Rusty.
Again, Luke felt the need to come to her defense. “Some people like things in small packages. In fact, we were having a similar conversation before you two came outdoors. Weren’t we, Lehman?”
“Uh, yes,” he muttered. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?” And before anyone could stop him he started in again about how his grandfather had come to acquire the property they were on.
Rusty’s leg bumped Luke’s occasionally as Lehman talked to no one in particular. After about thirty minutes, Luke decided he couldn’t take anymore. As much as he was enjoying sitting next to Rusty, he’d rather go home and take a cold shower than hear one more word about Lehman’s grandfather.
He yawned, then looked at Rusty who seemed to pick up on his cue. She, too, yawned then had the good graces to apologize. “I’m sorry, it must be past my bedtime. Luke, we really should be going.”
Luke was out of the tub in a shot, extending his hand to Rusty. He reached for the white robe Rusty had worn outside, and draped it over her shoulders and grabbed a towel for himself.
Claudia frowned and pushed her bottom lip forward. “It’s still early. Barely eleven.”
Lehman set his glass aside and made as if he was about to get out of the water.
“No need to end your fun just because we have to go,” Luke said.
Lehman raised his brow, glancing first at Luke then at Rusty. “You’re sure?”
Rusty waved a hand. “Enjoy. Luke will see me home. I had a lovely evening.”
Luke and Rusty went inside and upstairs to change. Once downstairs, Luke watched as Rusty headed toward the patio door then froze in her tracks.
“Well, they certainly didn’t waste any time, did they?”
Luke came up behind her and stared out into the night. Sure enough, Lehman and Claudia were exchanging tongues and a few gropes. “Hey,” he said with a shrug, “guys are pigs. What can I say?”
Turning to face him, she stared him in the eye. “You should know.” With that, she grabbed her mink coat from a nearby chair and headed to the front door.
She was quiet on the ride home, and Luke felt the need to goad her. If he didn’t, he’d start caring about whether or not Lehman had hurt her by his actions, although he highly doubted it. He knew Rusty had only accepted the date with him to annoy Luke.
“So, who’s next on your list now that Richman and Lehman are both out of the game?”
“I never said Tyler Richman was out of the—” She paused, then jerked her head toward him in the dark interior of the truck. “This is not a game.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No. This is about me doing something to please someone other than myself.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Well, if you ask me—”
“I didn’t ask you.”
He let out an angry sigh as he pulled into the drive. “How the hell can you even be thinking about going out with Richman again when nothing happened when he kissed you?”
“Because I—” She turned and glared at him. “I never said anything like that.”
“You didn’t have to. I saw the look on your face after he kissed you that night. You had a blank stare, like you were waiting for something more to happen.”
Rusty laughed. “You are psychotic. I suppose you think you’re the only one who can warm me from the inside out.”
Luke cut the engine and swiveled in his seat to face her. “Something like that.” The front porch light provided enough illumination to see the anger flash in her green eyes.
“Well, you’re wrong.”
“Am I?” He moved across the seat until their knees brushed.
“Yes,” she said, inching toward the door.
“Prove it.”
“I don’t have to prove anything to you.” She unfastened her seat belt and reached for the door handle.
“You’re chicken.”
She tilted her head slightly and stared into his eyes. “And you could use some help with your seduction technique.”
“I think my technique is just fine.”
“Where in the world did you get such a big ego?”
He grinned. “Are you challenging me, honey?”
Instead of answering, she lifted her chin defiantly. It was all the invitation he needed. He moved in for the kill.
She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to slip inside her warmth. After a few moments she brought her arms around his neck and angled her head, teasing his tongue with her own.
Luke’s heart lurched madly in his chest as he realized he was making a mistake. Break away, a voice in his head told him. Stop. Think. Listen to the brain in your head, not the one in your dick.
But it was too late. Every time he touched Rusty, he toppled over the edge of reason. And this time he wasn’t turning back, no matter how many voices told him he was crazy for kissing her.
Parting the fur of her coat, he dragged his thumbs over her nipples, loving how they instantly turned to hard pebbles with his touch. He was drugged by her scent, by the way her hair tickled his cheek and neck. He couldn’t get enough of her.
His right hand left her breast to trail a path down along her waist, across the top of her thigh, and under her dress.
She moaned against his mouth as he made contact with her heat. “Luke,” she whispered breathlessly, lifting her hip and spreading her legs, which gave him more access.
He found his way beneath the edge of her silk panties and touched the dampness there. Her movements grew more frantic, her kisses more urgent. He knew what she wanted, needed, and he intended to satisfy her.
Her mouth left his and she threw her head back, her expression strained. Her breath was choppy, her voice raspy. “Luke, … I—”
“Don’t fight it, Rusty.” He stroked her, dipping his middle finger deep inside her liquid warmth and then rubbing her dew against her most sensitive spot. “Don’t think about it. Just let it happen.”
And just like that she exploded against his hand. He’d never forget the look on her face as she looked at him with wonder. He held her tight, kissing the side of her face, her neck, whispering words he’d later curse himself for saying.
The windows inside the truck had steamed, enclosing them in privacy. She laid her face against his neck and throat, her breath warm against his skin, and held onto him. “I’ve never done something like that before.”
An alarm went off inside. Never? Had she meant she’d never fooled around in a truck, or had she meant she’d never experienced an orgasm before?
Surely, she couldn’t have meant the latter, then again.
Luke still couldn’t believe what had happened. He knew it was wrong to have touched her like that, and yet he was feeling pretty triumphant that he’d brought her off so easily. Just as she could bring him off if she’d tried. His dick was as hard as a steel rod. All she had to do was touch his erection and he’d lose control.
And then the voices came back, reminding him of the mistake he’d just made. She was Sam’s daughter. And she must have had some lousy sexual partners. Damn!
Luke was the first to break the silence. The one to ruin their moment. “So, what do you think about my technique now, Princess?”
She did exactly what he knew she’d do. She quietly lifted her head. Without looking at him, she pulled her dress down over her thighs and got out of the truck. With her head held high in the air, she walked to the front door, looking like royalty.
Luke swore. Why the hell did he have to act like such a jerk around her?
A voice answered. Because you don’t deserve her, pal. You’re way out of your league.
And he certainly couldn’t argue with that.
Rusty did her best to avoid Luke the next several days. She still couldn’t get over what had happened between them. The way she’d come apart in his arms. It was so embarrassing.
But she refused to give Luke the satisfaction of letting him know how much it had affected her. She would take that secret to her grave before she would ever admit it.
“Oh, who are you kidding?” she asked herself. The man’s ego was probably so huge right now, knowing that he’d won that round, he’d probably laugh at her when he saw her. Come to think of it, he’d been avoiding her as well, and she had no idea why. Although she was grateful.
She took a deep breath and relaxed in a Yoga pose. But her peacefulness was disrupted by the slamming of the back screen door.
She’d barely opened her eyes when Luke came to loom over her. He was holding something in his hand, a paper of some kind. His eyes were filled with bitterness.
“Do you want to tell me about this?” He flung the paper at her.
Rusty picked it up from the rug and stared at the bill of sale. “The horses are a gift. For Sam,” she said.
“Sam and I don’t need your money. And we certainly don’t need for you to buy a half dozen Arabians. You don’t know anything about our business, and I doubt you know the difference between a race horse and a mule.”
“I relied on a friend. Someone I happen to trust. He assured me if the horses weren’t of the finest quality money could buy we could send them back.”
“Is that what this is about? You think you can come in here and flash your millions around so I’ll remember my place?” His nostrils flared with anger. “Is that it?”
“No,” she said, getting to her feet. “This has nothing to do with you. I just wanted to do something nice for Sam.”
“I thought you were. Last I knew you’ve been busy seducing Tyler Richman so he’ll jump your bones and knock you up. Any luck yet?”
Rusty refused to let Luke know how much his words stung. She raised her chin. “We’ve been taking things slowly, but I think we’re both ready to take it to the next level. With any luck I won’t be coming home tonight, so don’t wait up.”
She turned and stomped out of the room.
Rusty pulled on a new pair of stockings. Tyler was picking her up in less than ten minutes. He’d promised to cook for her tonight. She should be on cloud nine, but her enthusiasm on a scale of one to ten was close to a one.
He was a nice guy, she couldn’t deny that, but she had no intention of sleeping with him, no matter what she’d told Luke. They’d enjoyed several dates together, and she’d thoroughly enjoyed his company and friendship. But there was something missing.
How could she even think about marrying a man she didn’t love and living a lie? Even if it would please Sam? She couldn’t sleep beside Tyler night after night and feel nothing. It wouldn’t be fair to her, or to him. As much as she hated to admit it, even to herself, Luke had been right. A woman simply shouldn’t marry a man for the sake of getting pregnant, nor should she sleep with him.
Luke must have thought she was a complete dimwit to think she’d go through with a plan like that. And he’d have been right.
But now, she needed to break it off with Tyler before the poor man got any more serious about her. She’d tell him tonight.
TYLER WAS A GREAT COOK. But that wasn’t a reason to ask him to marry her, or to father her child. No, she would have to find someone else. And in a hurry.
Sam seemed to be getting stronger every day, but he could have a relapse at any time. And she had to remember what he’d said about depression. Depression could bring on a relapse. She couldn’t let that happen.
Tyler had been quiet most of the evening, and even more so as the night wore on. She hadn’t wanted to spoil the nice dinner he’d made so she’d decided to wait until after the last dish was washed and dried to break it off with him. The time was here.
Rusty folded the dish towel and laid it on the countertop. She waited until Tyler wiped the crumbs from the kitchen table and rinsed the rag before speaking. “Tyler, I’d like to talk to you. Can we sit down for a few minutes?”
“Sure. In fact, I’ve been wanting to talk to you, too.” His blue eyes softened as he pulled out a chair for her. He sat down in the one next to hers.
“Rusty, we’ve had some good times together the past two weeks.”
She smiled and spoke softly. “Yes, we have. I consider you a very good friend.” Which is why she had to tell him the truth about her feelings toward him. But before she had the chance to speak, he interrupted her.
“Rusty, I have to be honest with you.”
She looked at him, feeling confused. “You’re one of the most honest people I know.”
He hung his head for a moment, then slowly lifted his eyes to hers. “Rusty, I’m still in love with Beth.”
Beth. His dead wife. She supposed she should feel angry by this news, but a part of her felt relieved. “I understand.”
“I tried, Rusty. Really, I did. You’re a beautiful woman, but there just aren’t any earthquakes when I kiss you. You’re just not Beth. You know what I mean?”
Yes, she was afraid she did.
Luke took a sip of bourbon and stared into the fire, watching the dancing flames. From the hall he heard the chimes of the old grandfather clock. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Rusty, who Luke decided was extremely inexperienced when it came to sex, and Tyler were probably making love this very minute. He clenched the glass in his hand, squeezing so hard he almost broke it.
He’d blown it this afternoon. He’d insulted Rusty and then rubbed her nose in the fact that she had money. Was he that insecure with the fact that she was stinking filthy rich, and that he’d once had nothing except for the clothes on his back?
Yes, he supposed he was. But that was his problem. Not hers.
He’d worked hard to get to where he was today. Sam had given him an opportunity to better himself, and he’d wanted to make the man proud of him. He’d worked his butt off those first few years. Sam had told Luke if it hadn’t been for Luke’s hard work and efforts, he would have lost the farm.