Jan Colley - In the Arms of the Rancher

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.”