Taste of Passion (Madaris Novels) (22 page)

Luke shook his head. “I have a follow-up appointment in two weeks and will know something then. My physical therapy ends next week and both my knees and chest are feeling fine.”

“And I guess you can’t wait to return.”

“No, I can’t wait.” Luke quickly dismissed the fact that what he’d said was a lie. At least partly. Especially when returning to the circuit meant leaving Mac behind. His entire body tightened at the thought of how they shared a bed every night and woke up to each other every morning. At first he’d assumed he was so captivated by her because of
his long sexual drought, but now he wasn’t so sure what it was. All he knew was that he enjoyed being with her more than he’d ever enjoyed being with any woman. She could raise his temperature from a look, a touch, a plain old sigh.

“Come on, Uncle Jake, let’s get you settled in before Mac gets back. I gave her my word that I would take care of you.”

Mackenzie took a sip of her coffee while glancing across her desktop to study the man who was quietly going over the livestock breeding records. To say that even in his late forties, Jake Madaris was the epitome of a vividly handsome man would definitely be an accurate assessment. He had to be every bit of six feet seven inches tall and his curly hair was an enticing blend of gray and black. His features were striking, the kind that would immediately reach out and grab any woman’s attention. He had dark eyes and skin the color of smooth chestnut and a fierce jawline. It was evident that he kept his muscled body in great shape, and there was something both sexy and charismatic about him. But then she had to admit that although Jake had dark good looks and gentlemanly manners, it was Luke who had captured her heart. Luke who could start her pulse racing whenever he looked at her. And it was Luke who gave her the energy to make love with him all night long if that’s what he wanted.

Jake closed the books, glanced over at her and smiled. “Things are as they should be. You’ve been doing an excellent job.”

“Thanks,” she said, feeling immediate relief. To be able to do business with Jake was a dream come true for any person. “I just wish I had somehow prevented what happened to those cattle.”

Jake waved off her statement. “There was no way you could have foreseen what happened. The only thing we can do is recoup our losses, move on, and take every precaution to prevent a repeat.”

“That’s what I told her, Uncle Jake,” Luke said, coming
into Mackenzie’s office. He had been in the kitchen while talking on the phone to his parents. They called each week to make sure he was doing okay and didn’t need anything. Luke Jr. and Sarah Madaris were the best parents anyone could have.

“Then I’m going to depend on you to help me convince her,” Jake said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the authorities will eventually get those responsible.”

Jake pushed aside the report he’d been reading. “Luke gave me a brief overview of what’s going on with you and Whitedyer and the case you have against them. In fact, Henry Whitedyer contacted me a few days ago about it.”

Mackenzie blinked, surprised. “He did?”

“Yes. He heard of my involvement with the cattle since we’re business partners and wanted to assure me that no matter what you assume, Mac, neither he nor his company is in any way responsible for what’s been going on. And they are willing to battle it out in court with you and are not using any type of scare tactics.”

“And what was your response, Uncle Jake?” Luke wanted to know.

“Mainly that I truly hoped not and that I believed the authorities would find the person or persons responsible. And I did let him know that if it’s determined Whitedyer
is
involved, I will make sure his company isn’t just rendered some sort of hand-lapping or fine. That I will make it my business to make sure they are punished to the full extent of the law.”

Both Luke and Mackenzie knew that Jake’s words weren’t meant as an idle threat. He had the means and the connections to make sure it happened.

“And I heard that Blade and Slade are sending a mini-crew out here next week to do some work for you,” Jake said.

Mackenzie knew that was his way of changing the subject. There was nothing left to be said. “Yes, there’s a miniature cabin behind the kitchen that I used pretty much to store junk. I realized what limited space I have when
anyone comes visiting and thought it would be nice to turn it into a guest cottage, similar to the ones you have at Whispering Pines. Slade took a look at it when he was here and said he could send out a small work crew and they can have it completed in no time. That means it will be ready for Clayton and Syneda’s visit.” She smiled. “They’ve agreed to act as my consultants on the Whitedyer case.”

Jake chuckled. “Then you have a winning team, although I don’t know how they will pull it off since they practically never agree on anything.”

Mackenzie wasn’t sure how they did it either, but she was grateful for their willingness to help.

“I would appreciate it if you just hear me out, Madaris,” Syneda said to her husband, attempting with an upraised hand to silence him if only for a second. He was notorious for trying to get her to see things his way even when she was adamant about
not
doing so.

“All law students practically cut their teeth on the
Berman
versus
Parker
case of 1954. I, for one, did not agree with the Supreme Court’s decision, just as I didn’t agree with their decision regarding Kelo of 2005,” she proceeded on to say. “The outcome of that one was definitely an unfair infringement on the rights of property owners. I can see the same thing happening with Whitedyer. They want that land for their personal use.”

Clayton leaned against the corner of her desk. “And it’s within their constitutional rights to do so if it can provide an economic boost to the community. Whitedyer is claiming that it can.”

“But that land has been in the Coroni family for years. It’s no different than if the government decides to take Whispering Pines away from the Madaris family because Disney wants to build another ‘World’ out there that will employ a lot of people. At some point the government has to protect its citizens.”

Clayton sighed, deciding to stop his wife before she got on a roll. “We can argue back and forth all day but none of
it will help Mac. And the example of Whispering Pines isn’t a good one because it was given to the Madarises in a Mexican land grant. Thanks to Carlos Antonio Madaris, Whispering Pines will always remain in the Madaris family and is exempt from eminent domain.”

Syneda rolled her eyes. Of course she had heard the story many times of how back in the early eighteen hundreds, Carlos—half Mexican and half African American—and his wife of Mexican descent, Christina Marie, settled on the ten thousand acres of land that was known today as Whispering Pines, where Jake made his home. “In order to help Mac we need to find out everything,” she said. “If Whitedyer is responsible for what happened to her office and with the cattle then there has to be a reason they’re going to such extremes.”

She sighed deeply. “Another thing I’m curious about is whether or not what Mac heard is true, whether they intend to do what they claim with the land, or if once they take possession of the land they will pass it on to a third party who has other plans,” she said.

“But even if that’s the case, will it matter to the courts as long as it boosts the economy?” Clayton asked with a serious expression.

Syneda knew Clayton had asked a good question. The Oklahoma City court system could still try and use the Fifth Amendment to support their stance that it was okay to take private property for private development if it would create jobs.

“I think we should try and find out if what Mac heard is true,” Syneda said.

Clayton agreed. “But doing so would be equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack,” he said.

Syneda nodded. “Yes, but we both know someone who’s capable of doing that very thing.”

They smiled and said the name at the same time. “Alex.”

Mackenzie decided to hang back and remain on the porch while Luke walked Jake to the car. Both men were tall and extremely good-looking, and over the past few days she’d gotten the opportunity to see just how alike they were. Both had a love of livestock, specifically horses. They were true horsemen in every sense of the word and had ranching in their blood.

Although Luke was a dedicated cowboy on the rodeo circuit, she’d discovered during his interactions with Jake just how much he knew about ranching. He was as knowledgeable about the cattle industry as Jake was, and it had been rather educational listening to them discuss the ins and outs of cattle and horse breeding.

Jake said something that made Luke throw his head back and laugh. The sound was rich and vibrant just like the man himself. Although she had told Luke that it wouldn’t bother her if Jake discovered they were lovers, he’d made the decision to keep things between them private and had slept on the sofa.

But that hadn’t stopped the want and desire from appearing in his eyes whenever he looked at her. She wouldn’t be surprised if Jake had seen it as well. But it truly wouldn’t matter if Luke had tried to hide it. Jake Madaris was a very observant man and there was no way he didn’t know there was something going on between them. They might pretend
to be just friends but she figured Jake had picked up on the fact there was a lot more to it.

And it hadn’t stopped her heart from becoming more Luke’s with each passing moment. She’d always figured that when she fell in love, she would fall hard. That was one of the reasons she could now say that Lawrence had swept her off her feet for all the wrong reasons and for a little while she hadn’t been immune to his charm.

Things were totally different with Luke. He had a different type of charm than the one Lawrence possessed. Luke had a style that rejected phoniness of any kind. He was who he was and didn’t try to be anyone else. He never resorted to sugarcoating his words or making you believe the situation was any different than what was presented. Mackenzie knew that no matter how much he might enjoy her in bed, he wasn’t in love with her, and when the time came he would walk out the door and not look back.

On that day her heart would shatter into a million pieces, but she couldn’t help but love him anyway. The woman inside of her couldn’t resist doing so. It was something she couldn’t deny. Being on the rodeo circuit had a grip on him in a way that she never could or ever would. She knew his passion in life. Knew it and accepted it.

As if he’d felt her eyes on him, Luke looked over in her direction and a smile touched his lips. He then held out his hand to her. She inhaled deeply and descended the steps to take it. When she felt her fingers encompassed in the warmth of his, a pulsating sensation flowed through her and she met his gaze, wondering if he’d felt it as well. As far as she was concerned there was no reason for him not to. The sensation had been a poignant one, sharp and hard at the same time.

“Thanks for your hospitality, Mac,” Jacob Madaris was saying, drawing her attention to him.

She glanced his way. “You’re always welcome here, Jake, and thanks for the vote of confidence with the cattle.”

“No problem, and I’m sure that everything will continue to run smoothly.”

“So am I.”

He then glanced over at Luke. “And if my nephew decides to become a difficult patient—”

“I can handle him,” she finished, chuckling.

Jake switched his gaze back to her and lowered his eyes to their joined hands before returning it to her face. He smiled. “Yes, I believe that you can.”

Mackenzie stood beside Luke as Jake got into the rental car and drove off. She didn’t have to look over at Luke to know his eyes were on her. She could feel his gaze like a soft intimate caress. It seemed the temperature in the hand holding hers went up a notch and she became even more aware of her own passionate nature, the one that was now drawing her toward something that was as elemental as breathing.

“Do you think Jake suspects anything about us?” she heard him ask her.

Without looking at him, she asked, “Would it matter to you if he did?”

He gently turned her to him and she was forced to look up at him, meet his gaze. His voice was low and shackled when he said, “Only as it relates to you.”

She knew what he was saying. He didn’t want to give anyone, especially any member of his family, the impression that the two of them were a couple with notions of “forever after” on their minds. That would be the expectation his family would have of them.

His dark gaze roamed her face and she felt the heat from the intensity of his close perusal. “I can take care of myself, Luke.” She decided not to add,
Somehow I’ll deal with the heartbreak because being with you now is what I want. I’ll survive any pain
.

Instead of saying those words, she dragged in a deep breath. “Do you want to go inside?”

She didn’t have to explain what was behind the invitation or the reason for it. Every day his health improved brought him closer to the day he would be leaving to return to the circuit.

He looked deep into her eyes and she felt it, the tingling sensation that would erupt inside of her whenever he looked at her with such a high degree of desire in his gaze. She felt his heat. It was inflaming every inch of her, burning a path through parts of her body that only came ablaze around him. He was the only man who could evoke such a reaction from her.