Love's Sweet Revenge (17 page)

“I know all about it.”

She shook her head. “Of course you do.”

Jake put on his wide-brimmed Stetson and took her arm. He started to lead her out of the dressing room.

“Wait,” she told him, pulling back. “There is something you should know.”

“Yeah? What's that?”

Gretta glanced at the curtained doorway, then pulled him farther back into the dressing room. “I had a visitor a couple of weeks ago,” she told him, her voice lowered. “He's the real reason I followed you in here.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “He called himself Mike Holt.” She watched Jake's whole demeanor change. The charming smile was gone.

“And?”

“And he bragged about…about being freed from prison and about…” She looked down, hating her next words. “About…your daughter…and about how he was going to kill your son for shooting his brother in the back.” She looked up at Jake and was startled at the complete change in his demeanor. “I'm so sorry, Jake. I thought you should know he's probably still in town somewhere. He knew you'd be coming in with cattle. You need to be really careful.” She watched Jake's jaw flex as he obviously struggled with repressed anger. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

“I'd already received a wire from Guthrie some time back, telling me he'd been there boasting about coming after me and Lloyd. It helps knowing for sure he's been here.” He looked her over, stepping closer and putting a hand to the side of her face. “I appreciate the warning, but that man is an animal. Did he hurt you?”

Gretta's eyes widened in surprise. “Good Lord, you
care
?”

“Of course I care. After what those men did to my daughter? Men like that have no respect for
any
woman, and in my book, prostitutes aren't any different from any other woman when it comes to a man hurting them.”

Gretta felt an urge to cry. “Well now, aren't you something, Jake Harkner?” She took a deep breath and blinked back tears. She pulled the bodice of her dress down enough to show him a bruise on her left breast. “He likes to bite.” She re-covered her breast. “I kicked him out and told him never to come back and that none of the other girls would do business with him. Same with his friend.”

Jake's eyes grew even darker. “Friend?”

“I think Mike called him Brad.”

Jake turned away. “Jesus!”

“You know who he is?”

“I killed his father and two brothers back in Oklahoma when I was a marshal there. And I beat the hell out of Brad Buckley and left him in a bad way. If he's teamed up with Mike Holt—” He shook his head. “My God, that was four years ago. I figured we were done with all that.” He faced Gretta. “I'm more worried about my daughter than anyone else. It's taken her all this time to totally recover from what happened to her…and I'm not sure she really has. Her only saving grace is her deep faith and a very good and very kind and understanding husband.”

Gretta took his hand. “I hate having had to tell you all this.”

“You did right.” To Gretta's amazement, Jake pulled her close and put his arms around her. “I'm just sorry for what he did to you,” he told her. “I should have killed that bastard when I had the chance, but my daughter—who thinks I walk on water—begged me not to go back to my old ways, so I let him live. That was a mistake.”

“Well, it got me into the arms of Jake Harkner. I don't mind that at all.”

Jake gave her a squeeze before letting go. “Yeah, well, now I have to figure out how to go to my wife later and pretend I'm not upset. After what we've just been through, she needs a break from worry, and I want her to enjoy herself tomorrow night at that ball.”

“Then let's go buy that ring. Nothing softens up a woman like diamonds.” She looked him over with a grin. “Although I have a feeling you don't need diamonds to soften a woman up. All you have to do is smile at her.”

Jake managed a soft grin. “Yeah, after thirty years, she knows me all too well. Just a smile won't do it.” Jake led her through the curtained doorway. “Come on. I have a feeling you know a lot about diamonds.”

“You bet I do.” Gretta paused. “Are you sure you want to be seen walking with me?”

Jake led her out. “Gretta, I long ago stopped worrying about what people think of me, and it's too late to try to change their opinions.” He glanced at Henry. “Package up that suit, Henry, and I'll be back for it.” He walked over and plunked the leather satchel with his other belongings in it on the counter. “Watch this till I get back.” He took Gretta's arm and headed out. “I also need to find a florist and a garden supply,” he told her on the way through the door.

Henry just shook his head. He couldn't wait to tell others he'd met the infamous Jake Harkner, and that the man had walked out of his store with Denver's most notorious harlot—after spending time with her alone in the dressing room and changing his clothes right in front of her!

Randy heard the tap on the door.

“Randy, it's me.”

Her heart pounded with both relief and irritation. She pulled her robe close around her and tied it, then went to the door. “I'm tempted to leave you out there in the hallway,” she called.

“I don't blame you. Come on, baby, let me in.”

Baby.
Randy closed her eyes and sighed with frustration. He knew the use of that word undid her. She unlocked the door, stepping aside as he walked in, his arms full with his personal leather bag, something wrapped in brown paper, and one hand wrapped around the paper-covered stems of a dozen yellow roses. It was already dark out, and by the soft light of two gas lamps, he looked strikingly handsome, filling up the room with his tall frame. “Well, you certainly look better than you did this morning,” she told him, “and you apparently found a bathhouse.”

“And a shave and a haircut, and I bought a new suit of clothes for tomorrow night.” He set aside his leather bag and the package of new clothes, then handed out the roses. “Your favorite color. And I found a place where we can buy all the rosebushes you want to take back to the ranch. For now, here are these. Happy anniversary.”

Every last bit of determination Randy had of staying upset with him vanished. She reached out and took the roses, smelling them. “Jake, they're beautiful!”

“Tomorrow, I want you to buy yourself the fanciest dress in town, as long as it's yellow, and get your hair done up. I'll be taking the most beautiful woman in Denver to the Cattlemen's Ball.”

She looked him over, trying not to cry. She turned and set the roses in a pitcher on the washstand. “Well…I already bought a dress, but I'm not so sure I want to go. After taking all this time to get to our room, you just come walking in as though nothing has happened, and you hand me yellow roses and pretend everything is just fine.”

“Isn't it?”

Randy faced him. “Where have you been, Mr. Harkner?”

Jake leaned against the door, folding his arms. “I just told you. I got cleaned up and went shopping. It takes time to try on clothes. Then I went over to the stockyards to see how Lloyd did. By the time we got through with the buyers, it was getting dark. And, by the way, we made a killing. The price of cattle is up right now, so we picked the perfect time to bring them in. We even talked to that government agent about buying that land with the old fort on it, which is why I'm later than I planned. Lloyd just went to his room and wants to go out to eat. Do you want to go?”

Randy frowned. “No! I mean,
look
at me. For heaven's sake, I'm not even dressed.”

He raked her over with his eyes. “I noticed. And you know how much I love your hair brushed out long like that. I guess maybe we should stay here in the room tonight at that.”

Randy stepped back. “Well, they do have room service here.”

Jake looked around. “Damn nice room, isn't it?”

“Yes. And they brought up a bathtub for me, and a maid even washed my hair. The service is wonderful, and it feels good to be pampered after that long trip. Even better, after going through what I went through the last couple of days!”

Jake grimaced as though she'd just hit him. “I was hoping for a better reception.”

“I'm sure you were.” Randy studied him closely. “Let me guess,” she said, watching his dark eyes as she stepped closer. She breathed deeply through her nose. “I am getting the distinct smell of perfume, and it's not the kind I wear. You've been with a prostitute, haven't you?”

He just stared at her a moment. “Jesus, woman, how in hell do you always know?”

“Because I know
you
, especially when things go a little haywire in that head of yours. You fell back into that mood of thinking you aren't good enough for me. When you get like that, and especially when that rage against your father comes out in you, you turn to the kind of people who used to understand and make you feel better. Dixie is still in Oklahoma as far as we know, so who was it this time?”

He stepped closer, grasping her face in his hands. “Gretta MacBain, and she runs a place called the Range Club. And I did
not
go there. And I didn't even go looking for
her
.
She
found
me
at the clothing store where I was trying on that suit over there. She knew who I was, and we struck up a conversation. I told her what happened, and that's all there was to it. I always say it like it is, Randy. When have I ever lied to you?”

She let out a long sigh and grasped his wrists. “It's not that, Jake. That has never bothered me, because I understand that little boy down inside the magnificent man you are. But I'm right here, Jake, and I've
always
been right here. You don't need to turn to someone else when these things happen—not to Lloyd or to Evie or some prostitute.”

He moved his hands into her hair. “I had to leave those couple of days because I was afraid I'd yell at you again. I'm so damn sorry,
mi amor
. What Clem said made me sick inside. I couldn't even
look
at you, and I hated any of the
men
looking at you.”

She closed her eyes. “Jake, what do you ask me every time you make love to me?”

His breathing deepened, and her need for him rushed through her with heated force.

“Who do you belong to?” he replied.

“And what do I answer?”

“Jake Harkner.”

“And you always say…‘every inch of your beautiful body.' And I
do
belong to you. I'm your
wife
, Jake, so anything you do with me you have a
right
to do as the man who loves me, as long as I
want
you to do those things to me. And I
do
want those things, because you make me feel beautiful and wanted and needed. How many times have I told you that I only feel safe when I'm in your arms?”

He cut off her words with a deep, hot, groaning, almost savage kiss as he walked her backward to the bed.

“Jake, we aren't done talking,” she tried to protest.

“
I
am.” He pulled off her robe. “I want to make love to you, Randy. I
need
to make love to you.”

“Jake—”

He grasped her nightgown at her hips and pulled up. “Get this thing off.”

“This isn't what I planned.”

“Didn't you?”

“No. I mean, not right away.” She was forced to raise her arms as he pulled off the nightgown. She was naked under it.

“Do you still want to tell me you didn't plan this?” He enfolded her in one arm as he pulled down the bedcovers. “You're the one who said it was all right for me to do whatever I want with you because you belong to me.”

She grasped his arms, studying his eyes. “Only if you're all right now.”

“I wouldn't be here if I wasn't all right. That's why I waited. I'm always all right when I come to you.”

“Then
do
that. Come to
me
. I only like making love to the Jake who is in the present, not the past, but I can help the old Jake when I need to, and you know that.”

He drank in the sight of her. “Woman, I am definitely in the present.” He picked her up and laid her on the bed, then threw aside his jacket and unstrapped his guns. He sat down on the bed and pulled off his boots. “You want to know what Gretta told me?” He stood up and unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off.

“I'm not sure I want to know,” Randy answered, pulling the covers over her nakedness. She could see the strong, loving Jake moving back into his eyes, the one who loved to sometimes tease her relentlessly and use just the right words to make her give in, even when he'd done something to upset her.

Jake unbuckled his belt and pulled off his pants, taking his underwear off with them. He removed the sleeveless undershirt and crawled into bed.

“I am waiting for your answer,” she told him. “What did that woman say to you?”

He moved on top of Randy and braced his elbows on either side of her, grinning. “She said I reek of sex. How's
that
one for you?”

Randy couldn't help responding to the masculinity that was Jake Harkner, nor to the way he was smiling at her now. The Jake she loved most was back, and that was all that mattered. “
Reek?
”

“Reek.”

“Interesting description.”

“Her word, not mine. I just wondered what you think of that.”

Randy smiled slyly. “You reeked of sex that first time I found you lying wounded in my bed back in Kansas. Actually, you reeked of sex when I saw you in that store the first day we laid eyes on each other. I could feel the man in you as you moved around, picking up the things you needed. That little store was filled up with Jake Harkner.”

“I felt the same thing in you.”

“That I filled up the room?”

“You know what I mean. The woman in you signaled to me like a damn warning bell. I should have
heeded
that warning.”

“I felt a signal, too—but it was more like the deep, long whistle of a locomotive, telling me to stay away. I should have heeded
that
warning.”

He grinned even more. “You did. You
shot
me.”

“Yes, well, we know how that worked out. Here we are almost thirty years later, lying naked in bed together, when I really should have slapped you when you came in for taking so long, let alone spending time with a prostitute. In fact, I should have sent you over to her place of business, but then when you came back, I'd have to shoot you again for actually going there.”

“I wouldn't have gone, and you know it. Why would I leave the bed of the most beautiful woman in this city? I don't deserve her, but if she's willing to be with me, I'm sure as hell not going to say no. What man would?” He leaned down and kissed her throat in the ticklish, butterfly way he had.

“I am supposed to still be mad at you,” Randy reminded him.

“What can I do to change that?” He kissed her throat again.

“You're already doing it.” She felt his penis pressing in that crevice where the top of her leg met more private places. “And I hate you for it.”

He moved to her mouth, groaning as he ran his tongue deep in a long, delicious, passionate kiss. By the time he finished, she felt as though he'd already invaded every part of her body. He had a way of making love to her mouth that completely undid her. He left her lips only long enough to kiss her cheek, her ear, her neck, then back to her lips yet again, searching deep. His kisses sometimes made it feel like he was already having intercourse with her. Again he left her mouth, kissing her eyes gently. “If this is hate, I can't wait till you decide you still love me.”

Randy grasped his hair. “I'll always love you, even when I hate you, if that makes any sense.”

He moved to her throat again. “Sure it does.”

“Maybe it's because you
do
reek of sex.”

“Whatever works.” He kissed his way to her breasts, savoring the taut nipples as though they were sweet cherries, making her groan and arch toward him. He ran an arm under her neck and moved to her side so he could run his other hand over her belly and down to the place that had always belonged only to Jake Harkner.

And you damn well know it
, Randy thought as he moved his fingers inside her suggestively, drawing out the silken juices that prepared her for what was to come. He moved his lips over her belly then. She parted her legs as he found his mark. It made her feel wanton as he kept teasing her with his fingers while his tongue worked its magic in private places that truly did belong only to this man.

Oh, how she wanted to stay mad at him…and oh, how impossible he made it. That little part of her that made her jealous of the woman who'd told him he reeked of sex made her offer herself with total abandon. She would damn well please him like none of those women ever had. Those days were over for him, because she always made sure there wasn't one thing the man needed that she couldn't give him.

“My God, Jake,” she whispered as a deep, aching climax engulfed her. He had a way of tasting her in these moments that only prolonged the climax until she literally cried out from the nearly painful ecstasy. He kept his fingers pressed tightly against her throbbing clitoris as he worked his lips back up to her throat. The man knew every move there was to please a woman.

“Still mad at me?” he teased.

“Yes.”

He met her lips as he moved on top of her. She could taste herself in his kiss. “Still?” he said softly.

“Yes.”

He moved inside of her then, filling her full and deep. Randy gasped as she raised her hips in response.

“Still?” he asked.

“No.” She leaned up and caught his lips again with her own, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down while he moved his hands under her bottom to support her and rocked in and out of her with perfect rhythm.

“Who do you belong to?” he asked.

“Jake Harkner.”

“Every beautiful inch of your body,” he answered between kisses.

Between groans and gasps she replied, “And you belong to
me
, Jake Harkner. Every…single…inch of you.”

The talking stopped as the deep kisses continued and their bodies remained locked in perfect movements, now so familiar that neither of them needed to wonder if what they were doing felt good to the other.

“Don't stop,” Randy begged.

“I'm trying…not to,” he answered. “It would help…if you weren't such a beautiful woman…and if I didn't…adore everything about you.” He kept up the erotic invasion for several more minutes before his life spilled into her in several hard, groaning shoves. His whole body shuddered, and he kept her under him. “I want to do this all night.”