Jan Colley - In the Arms of the Rancher - In the Arms of the Rancher / His Vienna Christmas Bride

Thoughts whipped through her head, one tripping over another. Jeff…the bastard. She knew; she knew he’d track her to the lawyer’s. He must have followed her.

What to do?

The phone rang for the third time. Kate opened the phone, determining to rip a verbal strip off him.

“Hello?” Her mouth was bone-dry; her voice, sharp with impatience. She fully expected to hear Jeff’s angry voice in response.

“Kate?”

A silent sigh of relief slipped through her lips. “Hawk! I, uh, I’m glad to hear it’s you. I had a lovely time last night,” she said, trying to forget the unwanted and unwelcome appearance of Jeff, and the doubts assailing her now.

“I’m glad.” Now she could hear the relief in his voice. “I wondered whether something had upset you.”

“Well, you wondered wrong,” she said, her tone firm. “It’s been a very long time since I laughed the way I have with you these past two evenings, Hawk. It felt good.” Too good.

In all honesty, and as much as she would have liked to deny it, she felt shaky at the awareness it was him on the line. She felt as if everything was smoldering inside her—and breathless, shivery. She had felt somewhat the same at first with Jeff almost two years ago. This time the feeling was stronger, more intense. No, she didn’t like it at all.

She had believed herself immune to any other charmer. For Jeff had been charming and gallant for many months, right up until she had agreed to him moving in with her, his ring on her finger. For a while she had been content. Her contentment had lasted all of three months. A bitter taste filled her mouth. First Jeff had become possessive, questioning her every move when they weren’t together. Then he had become verbally abusive, cursing, accusing her of being with other men, even Vic.

The warm sensations that had been inside Kate faded to cold determination. She could not, would not, go through a situation like that again.

He jumped on her last remark. “In that case, lunch?”

She had no choice but to smile, and it did feel good, dammit. And she couldn’t resist, didn’t want to resist, even though she feared she’d regret it.

“I’ve got to stop by my apartment to change. Do you want to meet me there?”

“Sure. What time?”

Kate glanced at her wristwatch, noting it was not quite twelve-thirty. “Would forty-five minutes work? You realize I’m not going to even ask whether Vic gave you the number.”

He chuckled in reply. “See you then.”

Within fifteen minutes, Kate was entering her apartment. Slipping off her jacket as she went, she headed for her bedroom. She removed the rest of her suit, hung it back in the closet and made a beeline for the bathroom, wanting to wash up before applying fresh makeup.

She smoothed her hair with a brush, giving it a healthy sheen. Makeup was fast and easy. She kept it light, natural looking. Back in the bedroom she was reaching into the closet for one of the outfits she wore only to work when the buzzer sounded on the intercom.

Hawk? Kate shot a look at the bedside clock. Only thirty-five minutes had passed since she’d talked to him. Pulling on a lightweight robe, she went running to the intercom.

“Yes?” she said on a quick breath.

“Ready for lunch?”

A flutter tickled her stomach, clutched at her throat. “Err…” she said, “not quite. Sorry.”

“That’s okay, I’ll wait.”

“You don’t have to wait in the lobby,” she said, feeling uncertain that inviting him up was wise. Still, she did. “I’ll buzz the lock on the lobby door. I’m in the second-floor front apartment. Just walk in. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

“Gotcha.”

That was what she was afraid of, and if he did have her, what did he intend to do with her?

Thinking she must either be nuts or self-destructive, Kate unlocked the front door and, turning, dashed back into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

She heard the front door open and Hawk call out, “I’m here, Kate. Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”

In the process of fastening her belt, Kate had to smile. Hawk was—or at least appeared to be—so nice, pleasant. But then appearances, she reminded herself, were deceiving. She sighed, fully aware that she knew that better than most.

When she entered the living room, Hawk was standing with his back to her, perusing the books on her five-shelf bookcase. He looked gorgeous from the rear.

“See something you like?” she asked, her face growing warm from merely thinking about his tight rear.

He turned to smile at her before replying. “Now I do.” He ran a slow look over her, which parched her throat and moistened other places she didn’t care to think about at the moment.

“Ready to go?” she asked brightly, perhaps a bit too brightly.

“Ready for anything,” he said in a tone that was darn close to a purr. “What about you?”

So am I. The thought zapped into her mind and she immediately zapped it back out. “Uhh…” She stalled, trying to think of a reply, then improvised. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’m not ready for lunch…at least not in a restaurant.” She dragged up a facsimile of a smile. “I’ll be spending most of the rest of the day in a restaurant.”

He shrugged. “Okay, what would you rather do?”

She didn’t have to think about that one. “It’s such a mild and beautiful day. “I’d like to spend some time outside. What do you think?” Kate watched as he pondered her suggestion for all of a few seconds.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said and arched one brow. “Do you like hot dogs?”

Kate had to smile. “I love hot dogs, especially dogs loaded with chili.”

“Well…” he said slowly, “how about we drive to town, park and stroll around the outside of the casino hotels. Some of the grounds are beautiful. When we’re ready, we can go into one of the hotel food courts, have our dogs and, if we still have time, maybe check out some of the upscale shops.”

Kate came to a halt, staring at him as if he had two heads.

“What?” Hawk said, frowning.

“You like to shop?” She managed a fake note of awe.

His frown turned into a wry expression. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like it, but I don’t mind shopping occasionally…like two or three times a year.” He grinned at her.

Even as she shook her head in despair at him, Kate grinned back. “Okay. Let’s roll before you change your mind.”

“Good idea.” As if unconscious of his move,

Hawk curled his hand around hers, laced their fingers together and led them out the door.

Kate’s hand tingled with warmth as they rode the elevator to the ground floor. When the doors slid apart, she immediately felt both chilled and angry all over at the sight that met her eyes.

Jeff…What was he doing there? Her earlier fear coursed back. She could hardly miss his hand reaching for the buzzer to one of the apartments. She felt Hawk stiffen beside her, as if readying for a fight, either verbal or physical.

“What are you doing here, Jeff?” she said, trying to tell Hawk to keep his cool by squeezing his hand.

Without taking his hard-eyed gaze off Jeff, Hawk tightened his grip on her fingers.

“I came to invite you to brunch,” Jeff answered, his tone of voice demeaning. “But I see you obviously have already eaten.”

Steel infused Kate’s back and her head lifted, propelled by pride and anger at the insult in his double entendre. A low, almost growling sound in his throat, Hawk took a step forward.

“Don’t,” she said, yanking his hand to hold him back. “He’s not worth your time and energy.” She looked at Jeff with distaste. “I saw a lawyer today. He is going to swear out an order of restraint against you.”