Savage Conquest (25 page)

Those stubborn lines on her face caused ripples of
spite to wash over him. He would fix her-her and
her treacherous sister! "I've been a bloody fool,
Mandy. I'm sorry. I haven't outright lied to you, but I
have misguided you. I thought it would be best for
everyone if I forgot about the other night. I've tried to
accept it as a misunderstanding. I was so excited and
pleased by her change of heart about me that I didn't
realize what she was doing. Frankly, I'm still not sure
about her motives, but they couldn't be honorable."

Amanda didn't take her eyes off his face and she didn't debate his allegations. "Continue," she coaxed
impassively when he hesitated.

"I let myself be flattered by Miranda's attention.
It's rare to have one beautiful woman after you, but to
have two ... She caught me by surprise, Mandy. I've
never seen Miranda like she was the other night.
Laughing, teasing, smiling, dancing around the
room. We were just talking and making peace-at
least I thought so. From nowhere she flung herself
into my arms and kissed me. At first I didn't think
anything about it; I mean, it was just a little kiss. But
she didn't move away; she started caressing my chest
and sending me a look which was so much more than
friendly. Tarnation, Mandy, she's your sister; I was
bewildered. Then she rubbed against me and kissed
me again. I'm not a saint, Mandy; so I won't deny I
had flames nipping at me. There I stood, nailed to
the floor, mindless with astonishment, and she was
dancing around me. Her hands were tickling me and
her mouth was all pouted up, sort of inviting. I didn't
know what to do or think."

Weber paced nervously and lowered his gaze
contritely. Still, Amanda didn't move or protest. "I
don't know what got into her that night, Mandy, but
she was a powerful witch. I can't explain what I was
thinking, if anything. Lordy, a man can't control his
body under trying times like that! I asked her what
she was doing, and she just smiled at me. I patted her
on the cheek roughly and asked her if she was drunk.
She took my hand and moved it down her chest.
When I tried to pull it away, she put it inside that nothing dress she was wearing. Lord's my witness,
Mandy, she didn't have anything under it, and she
clamped my hand over one of her breasts. By then, I
was half crazy with worry. I was trying not to tear her
dress but get my hand out of it. It was hard not to be
affected by what she was doing."

Weber did more pacing and hand-wringing. "By
then, I was trembling and sweating. Lord, I was
afraid you'd walk in before I could control her. I
grabbed her hands and pinned them behind her back.
I started scolding her something fierce. I don't know
if she wanted me, or if she was doing it to split us
apart. I think she was hoping you'd find us like that.
But I'm still not sure why. She wasn't herself, Mandy;
she was like some wild and hungry vixen on the
prowl."

He flopped to the sofa, groaning as if exhausted
from the exertion of this confession. "I talked my
mouth dry to your sister, Mandy. She seemed to relax.
Then when you came downstairs unexpectedly, she
went pale and funny. She could have changed her
mind about making me look bad. When I didn't
respond, maybe she realized she was wrong. Or
maybe she thought you wouldn't believe her lies
about me. Who knows, Mandy, maybe she was
looking for a good reason to leave home. You said
yourself she's different; she has a wild and mysterious
streak. You can't ever tell what she's thinking or
feeling; it's frightening."

Finally Amanda spoke. "You're telling me that my
sister enticed you to seduce her that night? Miranda Lawrence acted like a harlot to the man who belongs
to her own sister?"

"I've been flirted with plenty of times, Mandy, and
invited to share passion. Randy wasn't being an
innocent flirt, and she wasn't trying to become
friends. She was tempting me, trying to bewitch me.
If there's one thing I'm positive about, Randy was
trying to coax me into her bed. As to why, only Randy
knows. Maybe she did think I was bad for you; maybe
she hoped to prove it that night."

"You think she left because she was embarrassed?
She was afraid you'd tell me everything? Or do you
think she left because her seduction failed and she
couldn't bear to watch us together?"

Something about Amanda's surly undertone
piqued Weber. "When I saw her Thursday, I told her
we would forget it ever happened. She acted as if she
didn't know what I was talking about; she looked at
me like I was crazy. When I kept talking, she accused
me of being insane. I don't know if it was an act or
not, but she behaved as if the whole episode never
happened. Has that ever happened to her before?"

"If you're wondering about her sanity, it was fine
until last week. I'm not convinced you're innocent in
this matter. Randy wouldn't play the slut to prove a
point to me. And if she has secret longings for you,
they must be buried deep from the way she talks.
Perhaps you got a bit too friendly and scared her.
Randy is very sensitive, very giving. Maybe she left
because she didn't want to hurt me with the truththat my future fiance was chasing her. She dislikes you, Weber, and she doesn't want to live with us if we
marry. Maybe she thought I was too enchanted by
you to believe her version. Right now, I'm confused;
I'm hurt and I'm worried. Until I'm convinced it was
an innocent mistake I think we should spend time
apart. I'm not accusing you of lying; I'm not
charging you're wholly to blame. I need time to sort
out my feelings. I've been through so much these past
months; I can't take more pressure. I hope Randy
will write or come home soon; then we can calmly
discuss this mysterious misunderstanding."

"Why are you punishing me, punishing us for
Randy's strange behavior? I was afraid you'd react
like this if I told you about that night. By damn, I
should have lied! What about the firm, Mandy? I
can't support two homes and businesses much
longer. Marry me tomorrow, and we'll work out
everything. We'll find Randy and bring her home
with us. Whatever the problem-real or imaginarywe'll help her, I promise."

When Amanda didn't seem moved or touched by
his pleas, he beseeched her, "If we stop seeing each
other, you'll brood over this and maybe paint me
guilty of something I didn't do. Please, Mandy, you
must understand and forgive me. I love you. I need
you."

Amanda felt she was pushing too far, too hard. She
sighed wearily and relented to a mild degree. "I want
to believe you, Weber, but my whole world is coming
apart. My parents vanish and I'm told they're dead.
You, my family, and property were all I had left. Now Randy and Luke are gone. You say I'm nearing a
penniless state. I just recovered from an illness. It's
too much at once. Can't you see how I feel? I'm
drained and I'm frightened. If you truly love me, give
me some time to adjust."

When Weber attempted to embrace and comfort
her, she moved away. "Please don't. Not now, not
today. Come to see me Sunday afternoon; we'll talk
then. Bring Papa's books and we'll decide what's to
be done. Just allow me breathing space to recover
from these setbacks."

Weber failed to notice his reflection in a mirror on
the opposite wall, one which exposed his satanic grin
of satisfaction which Amanda was observing intently
from the corner of her eye. Her ruse had worked;
Weber believed she was utterly confused, vulnerable
to his lies. The bastard actually thought he was
winning this game!

"You're right, my sweet. I am being selfish and
thoughtless. You've had too much dropped on you
lately. Rest and think, Mandy. By Sunday when we
talk, you'll know I only want what's best for you and
us. Don't worry about anything. I'd never let you be
hurt by a scandal. If you need anything, send for me."

"You're very kind, Weber. I'm sorry about this
mess. You probably think I'm the most ungrateful
woman alive. Considering all that's happened, you
can't blame me for having doubts. I've just never felt
so alone, so insecure, so helpless! Maybe I'm not
myself yet. Can you imagine Amanda Lawrence
without money; the topic of idle gossip; the butt of amusing or cruel jokes?" she murmured as if
horrified by such visions, planting the seeds for her
next entangling vine.

"Don't forget you have me and all I own, my sweet.
I would never allow anyone to laugh at you," he
claimed smugly. Weber relaxed, fooled completely.
He might as well purchase a wedding ring, he
thought, for we will be wed by next Friday! Amanda
Lawrence would never risk poverty and ridicule. She
could be his adoring and grateful wife until he found
Miranda ...

After Weber left, Amanda fumed and paced with
the tension and bitterness which engulfed her. Did
the bastard think her so stupid? Did he think her so
dazzled by him that she would believe every word that
left his lying lips? Did he think her so desperate that
she would obey him without question or protest? Her
fury mounted.

As she returned the dishes and tray to the kitchen,
she burst into ecstatic laughter. "I wonder if you'reas
dangerous as you are evil and greedy? I shall enjoy
my revenge on you, Weber Richardson. No one
makes a fool of me. No one uses me. You thief! You
liar! You traitor! You've met your match, dear
Weber. Now that I have you trapped like the vermin
you are, I shall torture you and tease you before
you're arrested. I shall come to the jail and laugh in
your face when this is over. You'll regret the day you
set your sights on me and my sister," she vowed
confidently.

About ten, on Saturday night, Amanda tossed aside the book she had been trying to read. She
checked the lights and doors and slowly made her
way upstairs to her lonely bedroom. She closed her
door and leaned against it, sighing dejectedly.
Suddenly her gaze widened with astonishment, then
she burst into gleeful laughter.

Lying upon her bed was her irresistible love. His
chest and feet were bare, his lower body clad in snug
jeans. His ebony head was resting upon two pillows
as his virile frame reclined seductively. His expression said "come here." But he didn't speak or move.
He just grinned.

She ran to her bed squealing. "Reis! You're back.
God, how I've missed you. I was so worried," she
confessed, spreading kisses over his face between
words.

Reis captured her in his arms and pulled her down
atop him. "Not half as much as I missed you, love,"
he murmured huskily then kissed her with such
intensity that it took her breath away. He rolled her
over him and covered her body with his as his mouth
savored hers.

She hugged him fiercely as she responded to his
lips, her hands gently kneeding the supple flesh
upon his back. After several heady kisses, he leaned
back and visually devoured her beauty and smoldering gaze. "You have a potent hold over me, woman. I
couldn't wait to come home to you," he stated
thickly.

"Is it over, Reis? Did you get the evidence against
him? I've been so lonely and miserable without you. Don't ever leave me again. I've been crazy with fear,"
she told him, snuggling into his arms.

"I learned plenty, but I need a few more facts. I
should be able to wrap up this case in a week or two.
First, I need to get inside your warehouse and his.
Late at night, if you catch my drift."

"But that's dangerous!" she protested instantly.
"Surely he has both guarded. What if he sees you?"

"I'm good at my job, love. Did you see or hear
anything tonight? Yet, here I am," he jested
playfully, tugging on a blond curl.

"But I'm not surrounded by guards," she refuted
his smugness.

"But you are, love. There's one out front across the
street and one out back at the rear gate," he disclosed
to her shock.

"I don't understand. Weber called off his spy last
week. Why would he replace him, then add another
one?" she fretted nervously.

"Why don't you tell me what's been happening
here while I was gone? Are you all right, love?" he
inquired tenderly, possessively.

dangerous than ever. I'll have to move faster. He'll be
working to get you two married quickly. There's a lot
at stake here, love. I wouldn't put anything past him
to get his wishes. I know him, Mandy; I witnessed his
cruelty during the war. He would die or kill before
losing again. Why didn't you stall him until I
returned?" he asked.

She lowered her gaze when she replied honestly
and remorsefully, "Pride and vengeance. I'm sorry,
Reis. It was foolish."

He smiled and hugged her gently. "I know it's
hard to play a simpleton when you're not. But
retribution has to wait a while, love."

"Are you angry with me?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, and no," he teased, tightening his embrace
and kissing her forehead. He sat up on the bed,
pulling her along with him. He lifted the chain from
beneath her dress and removed the gold band from it,
slipping it on her finger. He smiled and whispered,
"But right now, I'm too distracted to think about
anything but my wife. Can we skip the talking for
tonight?" he inquired roguishly, cupping her chin
between his hands, then passing his left thumb over
her parted lips.