The last two months had been the loneliest months of her life. Just functioning became hard. The need to know why persisted foremost in her thoughts. She could not think of any reason why Jeffrey and Lisa tried to ruin her life. Finally, Sonny sent her down to Texas, just to be rid of her.
Annie looked around the diner, feeling her first sense of peace since that awful day. The red-checkered curtains looked faded and the tables and chairs were old, or maybe they called it rustic down here. She wished to be a part of it, a part of this town. She wanted to be friends with these people, who seemed so genuine. It would be nice to belong somewhere.
It surprised Annie to see Burke enter the diner. Her glance gaze flew to his handsome face. His bare head showed his thick curly brown hair, sprinkled with blond highlights, probably from being out in the sun. He looked rugged, not at all like the pale metro-sexual men back home. She smiled as she noticed the twinkle in his blue eyes, a twinkle that seemed to be exclusively for her.
“Well, just the little lady I was looking for.” Burke sat down beside her.
Annie grew a bit nervous. “You were looking for me?” she asked, a little puzzled as to why. in disbelief.
Burke grinned. “I gave Old Rowdy the riot act for renting you that truck,” he explained. “There’s a more reliable one sitting outside your motel room. This one shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
“Thank you. How’s Kitty?”
“Fine.”
She wished she had more to say. Her mind was blank and she felt like a ninny just staring at him.
“Well, howdy, Burke!” Noreen greeted, automatically pouring him a cup of coffee. “How’s the wife hunt going?” She turned to Annie with mischievous eyes. “This hunk is advertising for a wife.” She laughed. “Just look at him. He’s got to be the most handsome man in the whole dang county!”
Annie looked in astonishment from Noreen’s animated expressions to Burke’s reddened face. She wondered what was wrong with Burke. Why advertise for a wife? He seemed likable enough, even helpful.
“I don’t have time for a courtship,” he bit off defensively. “I labor 24/7 working my ranch.”
Annie took his explanation with a grain of salt. She knew that men hid their evil qualities until they were ready to show their true colors. Her instincts told her that Burke was a decent person, but she couldn’t trust her instincts anymore, especially where men were concerned.
“Annie, are you married?” Noreen asked with humor in her eyes. She obviously loved teasing Burke.
Annie squirmed in her seat. This turn in conversation was definitely uncomfortable. “I need to get going.” She got up to leave, turning to Burke and thanking him again for all his help with the rental truck. With a smile and a wave, she quickly left the diner before Noreen could continue with her matchmaking.
*
*
*
*
Annie clutched the steering wheel of the truck with both hands. The dirt road that led up to her stepbrother’s property was beyond bumpy. Her teeth clattered in her head as she drove on, hoping for an end to the torture. Nevertheless, the scenery looked beautiful; she could understand why people loved Texas. The sun seemed brighter, the sky bluer and the grass certainly appeared greener. Maybe she was just being fanciful, but she was really starting to love Texas.
She stopped the truck before an old run-down farmhouse. It looked as though it’d been standing empty for a hundred years. The paint was peeling and the front steps were in disrepair. It had a certain charm though. The long wraparound porch was something from her dreams and the rose bushes in front, though untended, bloomed in bold radiant colors of red and yellow.
Hopping out of the truck, Annie made her way to the house. She had a key, but since the front door barely hung on its hinges, it didn’t look like she would need it. Carefully, she climbed the front stairs, smiling to herself as they creaked, and cautiously pushed the front door open. It wasn’t a big house by any means. The front room boasted a big stone fireplace, marred hardwood floors, and old broken furniture. Its quaintness captivated her.
Annie walked into the only other room on the first floor and found, to her delight, an authentic farmhouse kitchen. A big antique stove dominated the room and she wondered in what era it belonged. The wooden counters looked well-used, with numerous scratches etched in them, and the sink was huge. People were paying big bucks to obtain this look in their own homes, and here was the real thing.
She’d been so lost in thought that she imagined she heard cattle outside. Laughing at herself, Annie went to the window and to her surprise, there really were cattle out there.
She walked out the back kitchen door and stared. Beyond the barn, she saw a fenced-in sea of cattle. It surprised her that she hadn’t heard their lulling while driving to the cottage, but it was a spectacular sight! After all, Annie wasn’t used to animals of any type. Her mother never allowed her to have a pet. She considered all animals dirty.
As if in a trance, Annie felt them beckoning her to come closer. She practically ran in delight, through the tall Texas grass, to the fence and climbed up on the first rung, wanting a closer look.
She looked off into the distance when she heard the pounding of hooves. A real-life cowboy, riding her way, mesmerized her. As the rider got closer, Annie recognized him as the handsome Burke Dawson. Her stomach tied in knots as she watched him ride closer.
He looked pure cowboy, as though he’d been born to the saddle, from his Stetson to his worn black boots to his brown leather chaps. Annie realized that she was practically drooling and mentally reprimanded herself. She knew about men and didn’t want any part of them, but she couldn’t stop staring at this particular cowboy. She smiled like a fool when he stopped in front of her, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
Burke rode to her. “What are you doing on my land? Are you lost, or did your truck break down again? Let me guess. You don’t know what a GPS is and you can’t read a map.” He stared down at her from atop of his horse. Biting off the rest of what he was about to say, he swung down from his saddle. “What’s wrong?”
“I...I’m sorry.” She jumped off the fence and took a step back. She had learned the hard way just how dangerous an angry man could be. Annie wanted nothing more than to get away from him, but she found herself unable. Burke vaulted the fence and came toward her.
“I don’t understand. I thought this was the land my stepbrother just bought. My mistake.”
Annie turned and walked quickly away, never wanting to see Burke again. She felt humiliated and deep down, even scared. She just wanted to get as far away from that house and that man as she could.
*
*
*
*
Burke wasn’t used to such temperamental females. Hell, he wasn’t used to females at all. He didn’t consider his ex-wife a true example of a woman. She was more of a hellcat that deserved drowning at birth.
“Annie, wait!” When he saw her stop half way to the house and turn, he hurried after her. It amused him that she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “There’s been some kind of misunderstanding here, darlin’,” he drawled, in a honeyed voice full of his Texas twang.
Annie’s eyes quickly looked up to his.
Burke took a step closer as he realized that his Southern charm worked. “Now little darlin’, there must be some reason why you’re on my land. I know in some circles they’d call it trespassing but since we’re acquaintances, we’ll just forget about that. I realize that we have a certain chemistry.”
Annie’s face turned red. “Let me tell you something. I’m not a lonely woman chasing after you. Of all the conceited gall!” Annie’s green eyes flashed, staring him down. “I was under the impression that my stepbrother bought this land. I have the deed.” She fumbled around in her purse, trying to find it. Finally, she pulled it out and thrust it into his hands.
Burke briefly looked over the deed. Unfortunately, what she said was true. Part of his divorce settlement stipulated that his ex-wife received one-half of the land that his family had owned for generations. He hadn’t known that she had actually gone and sold it, and he felt gut- kicked. His chest tightened and he found it hard to breathe. Walking to the stairs leading to the kitchen, he sat down.
Slowly, she sat beside him and gently laid a comforting hand on his arm. “Is something wrong? This all seems to be a shock to you.”
They sat there for what seemed an eternity before Burke finally looked at her, shaking his head in disbelief. He’d been working so backbreaking hard this past year, trying to keep his ranch going, and now this. He put his hand over Annie’s and found a serene comfort in having her small hand in his.
He looked at her worried eyes and winced. It wasn’t her fault, and he felt guilty for raising his voice to her earlier. It was obvious from her reaction at the time that sometime in her past she had suffered at the hands of a man. He sighed heavily, remembering her bright smile when he first rode up. He felt like a heel for ruining her day. “I’m the one who’s sorry, darlin’. I had no right to come at you like that. I honestly had no idea that she sold my land.”
“Who?”
Burke quickly shook his head. “I don’t want to go into all that now,” he said with a halfhearted smile. Despite what he had said to her earlier, she was so compassionate and kind to him now. He wanted to make it up to her. “Have dinner with me tonight,” he blurted out suddenly.
He felt her gaze on him, taking his measure. “I’d be happy to have dinner with you,” she answered softly.
Burke grinned. “Come on over to my place tonight and I’ll rustle up some steaks, okay?”
Annie smiled. “Sure, that will be fine.”
“Seven o’clock okay for you?” he asked.
“I’ll see you then,” she replied.
He watched her walk away admiring her backside as her hips swayed back and forth. She looked good in jeans. Too bad she wasn’t his type. Her good looks, shapely body, and the fact that she wasn’t a country girl ruled her out.
He had a few replies to his ad for a wife. Nothing looked too promising, but one of them would have to do. His time for love was over. He had his chance, and it turned out to be a false chance that he paid dearly for.
Chapter Two
Annie felt like a nervous wreck by the time she drove up to Burke’s ranch. At one point, she reached for the phone wanting to cancel their dinner, but she didn’t have his number. Calling the hotel owner, Wanda, or Noreen was out of the question. She didn’t want everyone to know that she was having dinner with him. In the end, she decided to live a little. Although he intimidated her, Annie felt drawn to that big man. She knew that he could be kind and she sensed a certain honesty in him. That was the most important thing. But she wasn’t sure if she could trust her senses, not after the disaster in New York. Jeffrey and Lisa’s betrayal had shattered her. In the end, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and hopped into her rental, heading for his house.
Burke’s house was certainly big and Annie found it charming. It looked similar to the smaller farmhouse she had seen earlier but on a much grander scale. She smiled in delight as she studied it. It needed a coat of paint, but otherwise it seemed well-maintained, well-loved. This house also had a wraparound porch lined in front with roses, well-tended roses. She walked to the front door with butterflies in her stomach, but she also felt a lightness of spirit. She had a good feeling about the evening.
Burke opened the door, smiling at her. “Welcome, I’m glad you’re here,” he said softly and ushered her inside.
The kitten from before rushed to her, and she picked it up, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur.
He led her into the kitchen, but not before Annie saw the massive fireplace in the family room.
How beautiful
. She could almost picture herself curled up on the leather couch in front of a roaring fire on a winter’s day. The wood floors and exposed beams added more rustic charm. From what she could see, it looked very masculine, not a curtain or knickknack in sight. It surprised her considering he was married until recently.
If the family room made her want to curl up and be comfortable, then the kitchen made her want to twirl around in a circle. It looked enthralling with huge windows and it had to be the biggest kitchen she’d ever seen! The wooden cabinets, counters, and floors showed signs of great wear that Annie knew showed the love of the generations of Dawsons. The warmth of family in this room made her wistful for things she never had. Things she probably would never have.
“I know it’s not much,” he started. “I guess I haven’t replaced anything since my father died.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Annie. “This is wonderful! I mean I just love this house. The kitchen is magnificent!”
The cat began to struggle in her arms. “What did you name him?” Annie put the kitten down.
“The cat? It’s a she and her name is Cat.”
“Why Cat? How about Betsy or Polly?”
Burke looked at her in horror. “A man does not name his cat Betsy and definitely not Polly. Cat is as good as it gets.”
Annie held back a laugh.
It must be a Texas thing
, she thought.
He opened the fridge grabbed two beers and offered her one. Annie noted how he intensely observed her.
Accepting the beer, she noticed that he didn’t offer her a glass. It was obvious by his hooded gaze that he did it on purpose. Did he expect her to be too prissy to drink beer straight out of the bottle? Well, she would show him. Pointedly looking at him, she took a nice long swig of beer. By the surprised look on his face, she surmised that she had just passed his unspoken challenge.
Burke looked a bit flustered by her perusal of him. Scowling he led her and Cat to the back yard where he had dinner all ready to go.
Burke set delicious looking steaks on the table. Annie shrieked as Cat suddenly took one of the big steaks in its tiny mouth and took off, leading her on a merry chase.
“Don’t just stand there! Help me.”
“Here, kitty,” Burke called.
Annie laughed. “Like that’s going to work.”
Burke squatted down and called for the kitten once again and to Annie’s amazement Cat went right to him, steak and all. “That was almost as much fun as watching a greenhorn trying to lasso a calf. Guess we’ll just have to share the other steak.” Burke petted Cat. He cut her a small piece and threw the rest out.
Annie felt enchanted. For all the show of not liking cats, Burke seemed attached to this one. If only he had given her a better name.
After a delicious dinner of steak, potatoes, and homemade biscuits, they sat on the porch swing in the front of the house. The night had cooled pleasantly with a refreshing breeze blowing the prairie grass back and forth. Long-stalked sunflowers bent and danced to some unknown ballet. Annie closed her eyes and took it all in. She wanted to make a memory of this place, of this moment for when she was back in New York. It was going to be harder to go back to her stark existence after this perfect night. She looked at Burke’s profile hoping to memorize it too. There was such strength in his features from his square jaw line to his crooked nose. She wondered if he had broken it in a fight. His eyes were so blue that she had gotten lost in them many times throughout the evening. All of Annie’s nerves tingled as her arm brushed against his. There was no doubt about the attraction they had for each other.
“Have you always lived on this ranch?”
Burke grinned. “All my life.”
“It must have been nice growing up here with your family.”
“Well, my mother was a saint of course and my father… let’s see, how can I describe him without chasing you away? He was a strict old son of a gun who was about as mule-headed as a man could be. It was his way or you suffered the consequences. I guess you could say that I was a slow learner.”
Annie put her hand on his arm. “I grew up basically the same way. I know all about consequences.”
*
*
*
*
They sat on the swing in complete silence. The sky was beginning to darken. Burke put his arm around her, pulling her close. He could feel her tremble at his touch and it humbled him. He couldn’t remember a time when a woman had such a reaction to him. The urge to pick her up in his arms and carry her to his bed was strong but he didn’t dare. He didn’t think she was the type for a one-night stand and that was all he was willing to offer.
Although he found her damn attractive, she was off limits. All he needed equated to an unpaid housekeeper not a woman that pr
obably had no practical skills
, even so,
she was very tempting. There seemed something so vulnerable about her that it made him long to protect her.
He made the mistake of looking down at her upturned face. Her luminous green eyes trapped him. Unable to resist the pull of her he carefully leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. He only intended for the kiss to be brief, but she tasted like honey and he had to have more.
Annie moaned as Burke kissed her again. He swiped his tongue along the seam of her lips, coaxing
her mouth open and deepening the kiss. His arms tightened around her, pulling her close to him. She smelled of sunshine
, sweet and warm
.
R
eluctantly he let her go.
Annie smiled back at him anyway, and
it pleased him. She looked lovely in her yellow sundress with her curly auburn hair falling down her back, and he couldn’t help but admire her cute figure.
Gently, he removed her arms from around his neck and looked down at her with hooded eyes. Highly aroused by her, it was by sheer willpower that he stopped his
advances.
Her bruised lips looked inviting to him and her eyes shone with pleasure. God he wanted her. Burke smiled at her enthusiasm. The last woman in his house had overtly insulted every inch of it. He could hardly believe her reaction. She seemed genuine in her pleasure over everything. But, he reminded himself that it didn’t really matter. Burke grinned as he watched her scoop up the cat and whisper in its ear, her happiness so apparent. For a second he was glad that he adopted that ornery cat.
Regretfully, he stood up and moved away from her. “It’s been fun.”
“Yes it has,” Annie stood. She wobbled a bit and made her way to the porch stairs. She looked at Burke with her heart shining in her eyes. “Maybe you could consider me as a candidate for a wife?” she asked quietly.
He hesitated, not knowing what to say.
“Never mind.” She hurriedly rushed down the stairs to her car.
Maybe in another life, it would have worked, but he knew what the ending to their story would be.
*
*
*
*
Three weeks later, Annie felt at her wits end, looking around her office she sighed in exhaustion. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Burke with his regretful eyes, telling her that she wasn’t good enough to be his wife. Well, to be honest, he never really said she wasn’t good enough, but that was how she felt nonetheless. Dozens of times in the last few weeks she relived their kiss. He had made her feel things she’d never imagined feeling with any man. The knowledge that she wouldn’t see him again brought a constant sadness to her eyes. She’d made a fool of herself once again.
Desperately searching for a new path in her life, she decided that she wouldn’t feel sorry for herself any longer. Annie rubbed her tired eyes and tried to think of her next move.
She was so sick of committees and fundraisers. Even volunteering at the animal shelter hadn’t given her the boost it usually did. She had thought about moving but rejected that idea. The only place she’d want to move to would be Weltworth, but she knew that was impossible. Seeing Burke and his new wife would be torture. No, a new job was the answer and a cat, definitely a cat with a girly name.
Feeling better for having made a decision, Annie packed up her things and went home. No sooner did she have her shoes off then the doorbell rang. A delivery of flowers surprised her.
The man holding the tell-tale box looked down at his clipboard. “Ms. Douglas?”
“That’s me.”
Without another word, the man handed over the flowers. After tipping the driver, she closed the door and walked over to her coffee table, setting the box down and carefully opening it. Her heart began to beat out of her chest. She hoped that they were from Burke. To her delight, the dozen, long stemmed, red roses were indeed from Burke. Included was a note, “Will you marry me?”
She cried out in shock and delight. This couldn’t be happening. Fairytales didn’t happen to the ugly stepsister, only to Cinderella, and Cinderella she wasn’t. Annie sank quickly into her favorite chair, reeling, not knowing what to think. She was afraid to believe that it was real. The pain of finding her ex-fiancé Jeffery in bed with her best friend Lisa continued to devastate her to this day. The awful things he’d said to her still made her want to curl up and die. He had called her a cold frigid bitch, because she insisted on saving herself for her wedding night. He laughed at her and taunted her with the fact that he and Lisa had been lovers all along. He said he never really planned to marry her. It was all a cruel joke. Could this be another joke?
What little self-esteem she possessed had taken a beating that day. She stroked the soft petals of the red roses wanting to believe in this proposal. She wanted to believe in Burke, but her past held her back. She should have been jumping for joy. Instead, doubts tore her apart. It wasn’t fair. Annie nearly jumped out of her skin when her phone rang. Numbly, she looked at it, not wanting to answer. She was half-afraid that someone at the other end would be laughing at her, but she told herself to buck up as she reached for the phone. It shrilled one last time, then it went silent, and the caller didn’t leave a message.
Annie slumped in her chair, berating herself for being such a coward. Why hadn’t she picked it up? Stoking the soft, red petal of one of the roses, she wished that she wasn’t such a coward. She wanted to talk to Burke; she missed him so much.
Annie got up and walked to the windows in her stark apartment. Leaning her head against the glass pane, she felt a knot growing in her stomach. He didn’t love her, but she couldn’t miss this chance at happiness. Her feelings for him were so confusing, she barely knew him, but she felt such a connection to him, such a longing for him. She would have liked to say she loved him, but she wasn’t sure what love was. Living her life under her mother’s thumb, then her stepfather’s and now her stepbrother’s hadn’t given her any inkling about love. A life of her own was what she needed. Sonny wasn’t going to be pleased with her leaving, but she needed to spread her wings.
Annie jumped when the phone rang again. She ran to it picked it up on the second ring, desperate to talk to Burke.
“Burke?”
“Did you get my flowers?”
“Yes, they are beautiful. Thank you,” she replied nervously.
“Oh hell, Annie will you marry me?” Burke blurted out.
Annie knew that it was a total leap of faith, but she grabbed it. She wanted the brass ring for once. “I can’t believe you’re asking me. The answer is yes.”
“Oh good. When can you get here?”
Annie laughed. His impatience thrilled her. “In a month I suppose,” she started.